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1.
Epilepsy Behav ; 156: 109810, 2024 Jul.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-38704985

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Laser interstitial thermal therapy (LITT) is an alternative to anterior temporal lobectomy (ATL) for the treatment of temporal lobe epilepsy that has been found by some to have a lower procedure cost but is generally regarded as less effective and sometimes results in a subsequent procedure. The goal of this study is to incorporate subsequent procedures into the cost and outcome comparison between ATL and LITT. METHODS: This single-center, retrospective cohort study includes 85 patients undergoing ATL or LITT for temporal lobe epilepsy during the period September 2015 to December 2022. Of the 40 patients undergoing LITT, 35 % (N = 14) underwent a subsequent ATL. An economic cost model is derived, and difference in means tests are used to compare the costs, outcomes, and other hospitalization measures. RESULTS: Our model predicts that whenever the percentage of LITT patients undergoing subsequent ATL (35% in our sample) exceeds the percentage by which the LITT procedure alone is less costly than ATL (7.2% using total patient charges), LITT will have higher average patient cost than ATL, and this is indeed the case in our sample. After accounting for subsequent surgeries, the average patient charge in the LITT sample ($103,700) was significantly higher than for the ATL sample ($88,548). A second statistical comparison derived from our model adjusts for the difference in effectiveness by calculating the cost per seizure-free patient outcome, which is $108,226 for ATL, $304,052 for LITT only, and $196,484 for LITT after accounting for the subsequent ATL surgeries. SIGNIFICANCE: After accounting for the costs of subsequent procedures, we found in our cohort that LITT is not only less effective but also results in higher average costs per patient than ATL as a first course of treatment. While cost and effectiveness rates will vary across centers, we also provide a model for calculating cost effectiveness based on individual center data.


Subject(s)
Anterior Temporal Lobectomy , Drug Resistant Epilepsy , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe , Laser Therapy , Humans , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/surgery , Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe/economics , Female , Male , Anterior Temporal Lobectomy/economics , Anterior Temporal Lobectomy/methods , Adult , Laser Therapy/economics , Laser Therapy/methods , Retrospective Studies , Drug Resistant Epilepsy/economics , Drug Resistant Epilepsy/surgery , Middle Aged , Young Adult , Treatment Outcome
3.
Ir J Psychol Med ; 38(1): 23-29, 2021 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32326984

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to assess the incidence of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) in people with schizophrenia, to explore clinical associates with OSA and how well OSA screening tools perform in this population. METHODS: All patients registered in a community outpatient Clozapine clinic, between January 2014 and March 2016, were consecutively approached to participate. Participants were screened for OSA using at home multichannel polysomnography (PSG) and were diagnosed with OSA if the apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) was >10 events/hr. Univariate comparison of participants to determine whether AHI > 10 events/hr was associated with demographic factors, anthropometric measures and psychiatric symptoms and cognition was performed. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of the commonly used sleep symptoms scales and OSA screening tools were also determined. RESULTS: Thirty participants were recruited, 24 men and 6 women. Mean age was 38.8 (range: 25-60), and mean body mass index (BMI) was 35.7 (range 19.9-62.1). The proportion of participants with OSA (AHI > 10 events/hr) was 40%, 18 (60%) had no OSA, 4 (13%) had mild OSA (AHI 10.1-20), zero participants had moderate OSA (AHI 20.1-30) and 8 (27%) had severe OSA (AHI > 30). Diagnosis of OSA was significantly associated with increased weight, BMI, neck circumference and systolic blood pressure. Diagnosis of OSA was not significantly associated with Positive and Negative Symptoms Scale, Montgomery Asperger's Depression Rating Scale, Personal and Social Performance scale or Brief Assessment of Cognition for Schizophrenia scores. All OSA screening tools demonstrated poor sensitivity and specificity for a diagnosis of OSA. CONCLUSION: OSA was highly prevalent in this cohort of people with schizophrenia and was associated with traditional anthropometric OSA risk factors.


Subject(s)
Schizophrenia , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive , Adult , Cohort Studies , Female , Humans , Independent Living , Male , Pilot Projects , Schizophrenia/epidemiology , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/diagnosis , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/epidemiology
4.
Mol Genet Metab ; 132(2): 94-99, 2021 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32713717

ABSTRACT

Respiratory outcomes in Mucopolysaccharidosis Type I (MPS I), have mainly focused on upper airway obstruction, with the evolution of the restrictive lung disease being poorly documented. We report the long-term pulmonary function outcomes and examine the potential factors affecting these in 2 cohorts of MPS I patients, those who have undergone Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (HSCT) and those treated with Enzyme Replacement Therapy (ERT). The results were stratified using the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. 66 patients, capable of adequately performing testing, were identified by a retrospective case note review, 46 transplanted (45 Hurler, 1 Non-Hurler) and 20 having ERT (17 Non-Hurler and 3 Hurler diagnosed too late for HSCT). 5 patients died; 4 in the ERT group including the 3 Hurler patients. Overall 14% of patients required respiratory support (non-invasive ventilation (NIV) or supplemental oxygen)) at the end of follow up. Median length of follow-up was 12.2 (range = 4.9-32) years post HSCT and 14.34 (range = 3.89-20.4) years on ERT. All patients had restrictive lung disease. Cobb angle and male sex were significantly associated with more severe outcomes in the HSCT cohort, with 49% having severe to very severe disease. In the 17 Non-Hurler ERT treated patients there was no variable predictive of severity of disease with 59% having severe to very severe disease. During the course of follow up 67% of the HSCT cohort had no change or improved pulmonary function as did 52% of the ERT patients. However, direct comparison between therapeutic modalities was not possible. This initial evidence would suggest that a degree of restrictive lung disease is present in all treated paediatrically diagnosed MPS I and is still a significant cause of morbidity, though further stratification incorporating diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) is needed.


Subject(s)
Airway Obstruction/therapy , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/therapy , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/therapy , Adolescent , Adult , Age of Onset , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Airway Obstruction/complications , Airway Obstruction/epidemiology , Airway Obstruction/pathology , Carbon Monoxide/metabolism , Child , Child, Preschool , Enzyme Replacement Therapy , Female , Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation/adverse effects , Humans , Infant , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/complications , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/epidemiology , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/pathology , Male , Middle Aged , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/complications , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/epidemiology , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/pathology , Young Adult
5.
Dis Aquat Organ ; 140: 151-165, 2020 Aug 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32759473

ABSTRACT

Bonamiosis has developed as a problem in Australian native oysters Ostrea angasi since the parasite Bonamia spp. was first detected in Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, in the early 1990s. At that time, large-scale mortalities in both farmed and wild oysters saw the demise of the pilot native oyster culture industry. More recent attempts to farm the species resulted in subclinical infections that progressed over time to clinical disease. The aim of this work was to establish what environmental factors result in the clinical manifestation of disease; determine the diagnostic sensitivity and diagnostic specificity of histopathological examination and a quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) test for the diagnosis of B. exitiosa infection in clinically diseased farmed native oysters; and calculate the optimal qPCR threshold cycle (CT) epidemiological cut-point for classification of positive and negative cases. After applying a range of stressors to tank-held oysters, results indicated a 58% increased risk (95% CI: 16%, 99%) of a Bonamia-infected oyster dying if the oyster was held at a higher temperature (p = 0.048). Starving and tumbling oysters, in isolation, was not significantly associated with clinical bonamiosis, but a Bonamia-infected oyster was at the greatest risk of death when increased water temperature was combined with both starvation and increased motion (p = 0.02; odds ratio = 3.47). The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of the World Organisation for Animal Health qPCR protocol were calculated for increasing CT value cut-points from ≤25 to ≤40, with an optimal cut-point identified at ≤34.5 (specificity: 92.2; 95% posterior credible intervals [PCI]: 76.2, 99.8; Sensitivity: 93.5; 95% PCI: 84.7, 99.1).


Subject(s)
Haplosporida , Ostrea , Animals , Australia , Risk Factors
6.
Cell Signal ; 75: 109751, 2020 11.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-32860954

ABSTRACT

Atherosclerosis is a major cardiovascular disease and in 2016, the World Health Organisation (WHO) estimated 17.5 million global deaths, corresponding to 31% of all global deaths, were driven by inflammation and deposition of lipids into the arterial wall. This leads to the development of plaques which narrow the vessel lumen, particularly in the coronary and carotid arteries. Atherosclerotic plaques can become unstable and rupture, leading to myocardial infarction or stroke. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are a heterogeneous population of vesicles secreted from cells with a wide range of biological functions. EVs participate in cell-cell communication and signalling via transport of cargo including enzymes, DNA, RNA and microRNA in both physiological and patholophysiological settings. EVs are present in atherosclerotic plaques and have been implicated in cellular signalling processes in atherosclerosis development, including immune responses, inflammation, cell proliferation and migration, cell death and vascular remodeling during progression of the disease. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge regarding EV signalling in atherosclerosis progression and the potential of utilising EV signatures as biomarkers of disease.


Subject(s)
Atherosclerosis/metabolism , Cell Communication , Extracellular Vesicles/metabolism , MicroRNAs/metabolism , Biomarkers/metabolism , Cell Proliferation , Humans , Signal Transduction , Vascular Remodeling
7.
Childs Nerv Syst ; 34(9): 1705-1716, 2018 09.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29946810

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: This study examines the long-term outcomes of paediatric Morquio (MPS IVA) patients undergoing cervical spine surgery and evaluates the factors that impacting this. METHODS: A retrospective review was performed on all MPS IVA patients undergoing cervical spine surgery, since the introduction of standardised neuroradiological screening. The impact of preoperative neurological status, growth, genotype and radiological status on outcome is assessed, whilst long-term surgical, radiological and neurological outcomes are documented. RESULTS: Twenty-six of the eighty-two MPS IVA patients (31%) reviewed underwent cervical spine surgery at a median age of 6.1 years (range, 1.45 to 15.24). Preoperatively, cord signal change was seen in 11 patients with 5 being myelopathic; however, 6 clinically manifesting patients had no overt cord signal change. Postoperatively, none of the 14 preoperatively clinically asymptomatic patients followed long term progressed neurologically during a median follow-up of 77.5 months (range = 18-161). Of the ten preoperatively clinically symptomatic patients who were followed up for the same duration, seven continued to deteriorate, two initially improved and one remained stable. Radiological follow-up performed for a median duration of 7 years (range = 0.5-16) has shown a degree of stenosis at the level immediately caudal to the termination of the graft in 76% of patients, though only one has become clinically symptomatic and required revision. CONCLUSIONS: Once clinically elicitable neurological signs become evident in patients with MPS IVA, they tend to progress despite surgical intervention. Referring clinicians should also not be falsely reassured by the lack of T2 spinal cord signal change but should consider surgical intervention in the face of new clinical symptomology or radiological signs of progressive canal stenosis or instability.


Subject(s)
Cervical Vertebrae/diagnostic imaging , Cervical Vertebrae/surgery , Mucopolysaccharidosis IV/diagnostic imaging , Mucopolysaccharidosis IV/surgery , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Female , Humans , Infant , Male , Retrospective Studies , Treatment Outcome
8.
Community Dent Health ; 35(2): 67-70, 2018 May 30.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-29111620

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the Community Water Fluoridation Advocacy Training Project that was designed to develop networks of community water fluoridation advocates in rural communities. The South Carolina (SC) Department of Health and Environmental Control Division of Oral Health staff and the SC Dental Association were responsible for developing and facilitating the training sessions for key policy influencers, which included medical and dental providers, early childhood educators, and water system operators and managers. Findings from the post-training survey indicate that participants increased their knowledge and skills to discuss the impact of water fluoridation on the dental health of community residents. Participants identified a need for online access to water fluoridation education and advocacy materials. Dental public health competencies illustrated: communication and collaboration with groups and individuals, and advocate, implement and evaluate public health policy, legislation and regulations.


Subject(s)
Dental Caries/prevention & control , Fluoridation , Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice , Pediatric Dentistry , Population Surveillance/methods , Professional Role , Public Health Dentistry , Attitude of Health Personnel , Humans , Organizational Objectives , Rural Health , Societies, Dental , South Carolina , Workforce
9.
J Perinatol ; 37(10): 1166, 2017 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28984875

Subject(s)
Bias , Blood Volume
10.
J Neuroendocrinol ; 29(8)2017 08.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28653356

ABSTRACT

Hypothalamic homeostatic and forebrain reward-related genes were examined in the context of scheduled meal feeding without caloric restriction in C57BL/6 mice. Mice fed ad libitum but allowed access to a palatable high-fat (HF) diet for 2 hours a day rapidly adapted their feeding behaviour and consumed approximately 80% of their daily caloric intake during this 2-hour scheduled feed. Gene expression levels were examined during either the first or second hour of scheduled feeding vs 24 hours ad libitum feeding on the same HF diet. Gene expression of neuropeptide Y, agouti-related peptide, cocaine- and amphetamine-regulated transcript, pro-opiomelanocortin, long-form leptin receptor and suppressor of cytokine signalling-3 in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus (ARC), as well as enkephalin, dynorphin, dopamine-2-receptor and dopamine-3-receptor in the nucleus accumbens (NAcc) in the forebrain, were measured by in situ hybridisation. Mice fed ad libitum on a HF diet had the highest total caloric intake, body weight gain, fat mass and serum leptin, whereas schedule-fed mice had a mild obese phenotype with intermediate total caloric intake, body weight gain, fat mass and serum leptin. The effects of feeding regime on ARC gene expression were emphasised by significant positive or negative correlations with body weight gain, fat mass and blood leptin, although they did not appear to be related to feeding behaviour in the schedule-fed groups (ie, the large, binge-type meals) and did not reveal any potential candidates for the regulation of these meals. Mechanisms underlying large meal/binge-type eating may be regulated by nonhomeostatic hedonic processes. However, assessment of opioid and dopamine receptor gene expression in the NAcc did not reveal evidence of involvement of these genes in regulating large meals. This complements our previous characterisation of ARC and NAcc genes in schedule-fed mice and rats, although it still leaves open the fundamental question about the underlying mechanisms of meal feeding.


Subject(s)
Arcuate Nucleus of Hypothalamus/metabolism , Diet, High-Fat , Feeding Behavior , Homeostasis , Leptin/blood , Animals , Eating , Gene Expression , Male , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Nucleus Accumbens/metabolism , Reward
11.
Clin Genet ; 92(5): 548-553, 2017 Nov.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28657131

ABSTRACT

Menkes disease (MD) is a lethal disorder characterized by severe neurological symptoms and connective tissue abnormalities; and results from malfunctioning of cuproenzymes, which cannot receive copper due to a defective intracellular copper transporting protein, ATP7A. Early parenteral copper-histidine supplementation may modify disease progression substantially but beneficial effects of long-term treatment have been recorded in only a few patients. Here we report on the eldest surviving MD patient (37 years) receiving early-onset and long-term copper treatment. He has few neurological symptoms without connective tissue disturbances; and a missense ATP7A variant, p.(Pro852Leu), which results in impaired protein trafficking while the copper transport function is spared. These findings suggest that some cuproenzymes maintain their function when sufficient copper is provided to the cells; and underline the importance of early initiated copper treatment, efficiency of which is likely to be dependent on the mutant ATP7A function.


Subject(s)
Copper-Transporting ATPases/metabolism , Copper/therapeutic use , Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome/drug therapy , Menkes Kinky Hair Syndrome/enzymology , Adolescent , Adult , Child, Preschool , Humans , Infant , Infant, Newborn , Male , Protein Transport
12.
Biol Sport ; 34(1): 77-82, 2017 Mar.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-28416902

ABSTRACT

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of wearing a wetsuit on resting cardiovascular measures (blood pressure (BP), heart rate variability (HRV)). The influence of position (upright, prone) and wetsuit size were also explored. Participants (n=12 males, 33.3±12.1 years) had BP and HRV measured during six resting conditions: standing or prone while not wearing a wetsuit (NWS), wearing the smallest (SWS), or largest (LWS) wetsuit (based upon manufacturer guidelines). Heart rate was recorded continuously over 5-mins; BP was measured three times per condition. HRV was represented by the ratio of low (LF) and high (HF) frequency (LF/HF ratio); mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated. Each dependent variable was analyzed using a 2 (position) x 3 (wetsuit) repeated measures ANOVA (α=0.05). Neither HRV parameter was influenced by position x wetsuit condition interaction (p>0.05) and MAP was not influenced by position (p=0.717). MAP and LF/HF ratio were both influenced by wetsuit condition (p<0.05) with higher during SWS than NWS (p=0.026) while LF/HF ratio was lower during SWS compared to NWS (p=0.032). LF/HF ratio was influenced by position being greater during standing vs. prone (p=0.001). It was concluded that during resting while on land (i.e., not submerged in water), wearing a small, tight-fitting wetsuit subtlety altered cardiovascular parameters for healthy, normotensive subjects.

13.
J Perinatol ; 37(3): 260-264, 2017 03.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27929530

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to measure the effects of a 5-min delay (DCC) versus immediate cord clamping (ICC) on residual placental blood volume (RPBV) at birth, and hemoglobin and serum bilirubin at 24 to 48 h of age. STUDY DESIGN: In this prospective randomized controlled trial, 73 women with term (37 to 41 weeks) singleton fetuses were randomized to DCC (⩾5 min; n=37) or ICC (<20 s; n=36). RESULTS: Maternal and infant demographics were not different between the groups. Mean cord clamping time was 303±121 (DCC) versus 23±59 (ICC) s (P<0.001) with 10 protocol violations. Cord milking was the proxy for DCC (n=11) when the provider could not wait. Infants randomized to DCC compared with ICC had significantly less RPBV (20.0 versus 30.8 ml kg-1, P<0.001), higher hemoglobin levels (19.4 versus 17.8 g dl-1, P=0.002) at 24 to 48 h, with no difference in bilirubin levels. CONCLUSION: Term infants had early hematological advantage of DCC without increases in hyperbilirubinemia or symptomatic polycythemia.


Subject(s)
Bilirubin/blood , Hemoglobins/analysis , Placental Circulation , Term Birth/blood , Umbilical Cord/blood supply , Adult , Blood Volume , Constriction , Delivery, Obstetric/methods , Female , Hematocrit , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Male , Placenta/blood supply , Pregnancy , Prospective Studies , Rhode Island , Time Factors , Young Adult
14.
J Perinatol ; 37(2): 105-111, 2017 02.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27654493

ABSTRACT

Recently there have been a number of studies and presentations on the importance of providing a placental transfusion to the newborn. Early cord clamping is an avoidable, unphysiologic intervention that prevents the natural process of placental transfusion. However, placental transfusion, although simple in concept, is affected by multiple factors, is not always straightforward to implement, and can be performed using different methods, making this basic procedure important to discuss. Here, we review three placental transfusion techniques: delayed cord clamping, intact umbilical cord milking and cut-umbilical cord milking, and the evidence in term and preterm newborns supporting this practice. We will also review several factors that influence placental transfusion, and discuss perceived risks versus benefits of this procedure. Finally, we will provide key straightforward concepts and implementation strategies to ensure that placental-to-newborn transfusion can become routine practice at any institution.


Subject(s)
Blood Component Transfusion , Infant, Premature , Placenta/blood supply , Umbilical Cord , Constriction , Female , Humans , Infant, Newborn , Practice Guidelines as Topic , Pregnancy , Randomized Controlled Trials as Topic , Time Factors
15.
Orphanet J Rare Dis ; 11(1): 96, 2016 07 12.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-27406185

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Hematopoietic stem cell transplants, alongside enzyme replacement therapy and good multi-disciplinary care, have dramatically improved the life expectancy in children with Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) I, with better objective and functional outcomes. Despite these improvements, children with both the attenuated (non-Hurler) and severe (Hurler) variants of the disease have marked residual morbidity. Children with MPS I suffer with head and neck disease including obstructive sleep apnoea and hearing loss. The impact of these on quality of life has been poorly researched and no previous work has been published looking at patients' perception of their own health, an important domain when considering the impact of treatment. METHODS: This exploratory qualitative study aimed to discover the effect of head and neck disease, alongside that of MPS I as a whole, on the quality of life of affected children. A grounded theory approach was used to conduct this study. Children and their parents were invited to participate in semi-structured interviews. The transcribed interviews were coded and emergent themes explored until saturation occurred. RESULTS: The families of eleven children with MPS I were interviewed, five with Hurler's and six with the attenuated non-Hurler's. Important themes to emerge were- the fear of dying associated with obstructive sleep apnoea, difficulties communicating at school due to the delayed acquisition of language, chronic pain and restricted mobility, physical differences and restricted participation in social activities such as sports secondary to the musculoskeletal disease burden. The overall theme running through the analysis was the desire to fit in with ones peers. CONCLUSION: Parents and children with MPS 1 worry about 'fitting-in' with broader society. The presence of airway disease has a profound impact on the emotional well being of parents whilst language delay and musculoskeletal disease have the biggest impact on the quality of life of the children themselves. It is important to understand the impact of MPS I on the quality of life of children and their families so that we may improve future treatment and management of this sub-group of children who have an increasing life span.


Subject(s)
Mucopolysaccharidosis I/pathology , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/physiopathology , Adolescent , Child , Child, Preschool , Enzyme Replacement Therapy , Female , Hearing Loss/etiology , Hearing Loss/pathology , Hearing Loss/physiopathology , Humans , Infant , Male , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/complications , Mucopolysaccharidosis I/drug therapy , Prospective Studies , Qualitative Research , Quality of Life , Respiration , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/etiology , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/pathology , Sleep Apnea, Obstructive/physiopathology
16.
Cell Death Differ ; 23(6): 962-78, 2016 06.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26915293

ABSTRACT

Apoptosis is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated cell death modality. It serves important roles in physiology by sculpting complex tissues during embryogenesis and by removing effete cells that have reached advanced age or whose genomes have been irreparably damaged. Apoptosis culminates in the rapid and decisive removal of cell corpses by efferocytosis, a term used to distinguish the engulfment of apoptotic cells from other phagocytic processes. Over the past decades, the molecular and cell biological events associated with efferocytosis have been rigorously studied, and many eat-me signals and receptors have been identified. The externalization of phosphatidylserine (PS) is arguably the most emblematic eat-me signal that is in turn bound by a large number of serum proteins and opsonins that facilitate efferocytosis. Under physiological conditions, externalized PS functions as a dominant and evolutionarily conserved immunosuppressive signal that promotes tolerance and prevents local and systemic immune activation. Pathologically, the innate immunosuppressive effect of externalized PS has been hijacked by numerous viruses, microorganisms, and parasites to facilitate infection, and in many cases, establish infection latency. PS is also profoundly dysregulated in the tumor microenvironment and antagonizes the development of tumor immunity. In this review, we discuss the biology of PS with respect to its role as a global immunosuppressive signal and how PS is exploited to drive diverse pathological processes such as infection and cancer. Finally, we outline the rationale that agents targeting PS could have significant value in cancer and infectious disease therapeutics.


Subject(s)
Apoptosis/physiology , Communicable Diseases/pathology , Neoplasms/pathology , Phosphatidylserines/metabolism , Animals , Antibodies/immunology , Antibodies/therapeutic use , Apoptosis Regulatory Proteins/metabolism , Autoimmunity , Communicable Diseases/immunology , Communicable Diseases/metabolism , Humans , Membrane Glycoproteins/metabolism , Neoplasms/immunology , Neoplasms/metabolism , Phosphatidylserines/immunology , Receptors, Cell Surface/metabolism , Signal Transduction
17.
Ann Oncol ; 26(10): 2102-6, 2015 Oct.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-26232491

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: Studies of clinical outcomes of elderly patients treated with neoadjuvant chemoradiation (nCRT) for locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) are limited. Our aim was to assess the impact of age on clinical outcomes in a large multi-institutional database. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data for patients diagnosed with LARC who received nCRT and curative-intent surgery between 2005 and 2012 were collected from five major Canadian cancer centers. Age was analyzed as a continuous and dichotomous variable (< 70 versus ≥ 70 years) and correlated with disease-free survival (DFS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS). Cox regression models were used to adjust for important prognostic factors. RESULTS: Of 1172 patients included, 295 (25%) were ≥ 70 years, and they were less likely to receive adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT; 60% versus 79%, P < 0.0001), oxaliplatin-based ACT (12% versus 31%, P < 0.0001), less likely to complete nCT (76% versus 86%, P < 0.001), and more likely to be anemic at initiation of nCRT (42% versus 30%, P = 0.0004). In multivariate analyses, age ≥ 70 years was associated with similar DFS [hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.26, P = 0.63], similar CSS (HR 0.81, 95% CI 0.46-1.41, P = 0.45), and similar OS (HR 1.28, 95% CI 0.88-1.86, P = 0.20), compared with the younger age group. As a continuous variable, increasing age was not predictive of DFS (HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.99-1.02, P = 0.49) or CSS (HR 1.002, 95% CI 0.98-1.02, P = 0.88); however, it correlated with an inferior OS (HR 1.02, 95% CI 1.00-1.03, P = 0.04). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients (≥ 70 years) who receive nCRT followed by surgery appear to have similar outcomes compared with younger patients. Decisions regarding eligibility for nCRT and surgery should not be based on age alone.


Subject(s)
Adenocarcinoma/mortality , Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols/therapeutic use , Chemoradiotherapy/mortality , Neoadjuvant Therapy/mortality , Rectal Neoplasms/mortality , Adenocarcinoma/pathology , Adenocarcinoma/therapy , Adult , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Capecitabine/administration & dosage , Chemotherapy, Adjuvant , Female , Fluorouracil/administration & dosage , Follow-Up Studies , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Neoplasm Staging , Organoplatinum Compounds/administration & dosage , Oxaliplatin , Prognosis , Quinazolines/administration & dosage , Rectal Neoplasms/pathology , Rectal Neoplasms/therapy , Retrospective Studies , Survival Rate , Thiophenes/administration & dosage , Young Adult
19.
Appetite ; 77: 60-71, 2014 Jun.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24631639

ABSTRACT

Male C57BL/6 mice fed ad libitum on control diet but allowed access to a palatable high fat diet (HFD) for 2 h a day during the mid-dark phase rapidly adapt their feeding behaviour and can consume nearly 80% of their daily caloric intake during this 2 h-scheduled feed. We assessed food intake microstructure and meal pattern, and locomotor activity and rearing as markers of food anticipatory activity (FAA). Schedule fed mice reduced their caloric intake from control diet during the first hours of the dark phase but not during the 3-h period immediately preceding the scheduled feed. Large meal/binge-like eating behaviour during the 2-h scheduled feed was characterised by increases in both meal number and meal size. Rearing was increased during the 2-h period running up to scheduled feeding while locomotor activity started to increase 1 h before, indicating that schedule-fed mice display FAA. Meal number and physical activity changes were sustained when HFD was withheld during the anticipated scheduled feeding period, and mice immediately binged when HFD was represented after a week of this "withdrawal" period. These findings provide important context to our previous studies suggesting that energy balance systems in the hypothalamus are not responsible for driving these large, binge-type meals. Evidence of FAA in HFD dark phase schedule-fed mice implicates anticipatory processes in binge eating that do not involve immediately preceding hypophagia or regulatory homeostatic signalling.


Subject(s)
Anticipation, Psychological/physiology , Bulimia , Diet, High-Fat , Eating , Energy Intake/physiology , Energy Metabolism/physiology , Feeding Behavior , Animals , Binge-Eating Disorder/physiopathology , Binge-Eating Disorder/psychology , Bulimia/physiopathology , Bulimia/psychology , Dietary Fats/administration & dosage , Eating/physiology , Eating/psychology , Feeding Behavior/physiology , Feeding Behavior/psychology , Hypothalamus , Male , Meals , Mice, Inbred C57BL , Motor Activity
20.
Physiol Behav ; 128: 70-9, 2014 Apr 10.
Article in English | MEDLINE | ID: mdl-24518863

ABSTRACT

Providing rats and mice with access to palatable high fat diets for a short period each day induces the consumption of substantial binge-like meals. Temporal food intake structure (assessed using the TSE PhenoMaster/LabMaster system) and metabolic outcomes (oral glucose tolerance tests [oGTTs], and dark phase glucose and insulin profiles) were examined in Sprague-Dawley rats given access to 60% high fat diet on one of 3 different feeding regimes: ad libitum access (HF), daily 2 h-scheduled access from 6 to 8 h into the dark phase (2 h-HF), and twice daily 1 h-scheduled access from both 1-2 h and 10-11 h into the dark phase (2×1 h-HF). Control diet remained available during the scheduled access period. HF rats had the highest caloric intake, body weight gain, body fat mass and plasma insulin. Both schedule-fed groups rapidly adapted their feeding behaviour to scheduled access, showing large meal/bingeing behaviour with 44% or 53% of daily calories consumed from high fat diet during the 2 h or 2×1 h scheduled feed(s), respectively. Both schedule-fed groups had an intermediate caloric intake and body fat mass compared to HF and control (CON) groups. Temporal analysis of food intake indicated that schedule-fed rats consumed large binge-type high fat meals without a habitual decrease in preceding intake on control diet, suggesting that a relative hypocaloric state was not responsible or required for driving the binge episode, and substantiating previous indications that binge eating may not be driven by hypothalamic energy balance neuropeptides. In an oGTT, both schedule-fed groups had impaired glucose tolerance with higher glucose and insulin area under the curve, similar to the response in ad libitum HF fed rats, suggesting that palatable feeding schedules represent a potential metabolic threat. Scheduled feeding on high fat diet produces similar metabolic phenotypes to mandatory (no choice) high fat feeding and may be a more realistic platform for mechanistic study of diet-induced obesity.


Subject(s)
Bulimia/physiopathology , Dietary Fats/administration & dosage , Eating/physiology , Feeding Behavior/physiology , Animals , Blood Glucose/analysis , Bulimia/metabolism , Eating/psychology , Fatty Acids, Nonesterified/blood , Ghrelin/blood , Glucagon-Like Peptide 1/blood , Insulin/blood , Leptin/blood , Male , Rats, Sprague-Dawley/metabolism , Rats, Sprague-Dawley/physiology , Rats, Sprague-Dawley/psychology , Triglycerides/blood , Weight Gain/physiology
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