Perceived Susceptibility and Severity of COVID-19 on Prevention Practices, Early in the Pandemic in the State of Florida.

Early in the pandemic and prior to the development of the COVID-19 vaccine, prevention measures were promoted to help inhibit the spread of the virus. To optimize adherence to prevention practices, it's important to understand factors that may influence adherence. A study was conducted in the month of April, 2020, to explore the influence of perceptions of COVID-19 on prevention practices. The sample included members of a public social-media group focused on providing updates and information on COVID-19. A total of 719 individuals completed an online survey that assessed various aspects of COVID-19 which included experience, perceptions, and prevention practices. The perceptions of COVID-19 included perceived susceptibility of contracting the virus, and perceived potential severity if contracted COVID-19. To assess prevention practices, the survey included a 10-item prevention practices questionnaire that included items such as wearing a mask, and social distancing. Results revealed that perceived susceptibility of contracting COVID-19, and potential severity of COVID-19 were significant in predicting prevention practices. Further, results suggest that perceived potential severity predicts a greater proportion of the variance in prevention practices than susceptibility of contracting COVID-19. In addition, a moderation analysis revealed no interaction between perceived susceptibility and severity, which provides evidence that the variables do not influence one another. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.

Venous thromboembolism in IBD: Increased risk for women in CD?

Although coagulation disturbances have been described in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), it remains unclear how common venous thromboembolism (VTE) is in IBD, and what factors influence VTE frequency. We evaluated VTE in Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) at LSUHSC-S, a southern US medical center with an approximately equal White: African-American (AA) (1.12:1) patient base. This retrospective study evaluated VTE as a co-morbidity in IBD as a function of age, gender and race based on ICD-10 coding (2011-2015.) Results. Of 276 IBD diagnostic records, 213 were for CD (77.17%) and 63 for UC (22.8%). 52% of the CD patients were white, 42% were AA, and 6% were other. 42% of CD patients were male, with 58% were female. 6.1% (13 patients) of the 213 CD patients had a VTE. Of these 13 CD patients, 9 had active disease and 4 were in remission. 9 of 13 were female and 4 were male, with 5 white patients and 4 A A patients. 63 patients were diagnosed with UC, 3.38-fold fewer cases than CD. 25 UC patients were white, 25 were AA and 13 were in other ethnic groups. Of 63 UC cases, 2 UC patients had a VTE, both with active disease. At our institution, VTE appears to be 3x more frequently associated with CD than UC and was more common in white female patients. The recognition of VTE risk in CD, particularly in women, may be an important observation which may guide therapy and limit potentially life-threatening consequences.

The drebrin/EB3 pathway drives invasive activity in prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men and the metastatic form of the disease is incurable. We show here that the drebrin/EB3 pathway, which co-ordinates dynamic microtubule/actin filament interactions underlying cell shape changes in response to guidance cues, plays a role in prostate cancer cell invasion. Drebrin expression is restricted to basal epithelial cells in benign human prostate but is upregulated in luminal epithelial cells in foci of prostatic malignancy. Drebrin is also upregulated in human prostate cancer cell lines and co-localizes with actin filaments and dynamic microtubules in filopodia of pseudopods of invading cells under a chemotactic gradient of the chemokine CXCL12. Disruption of the drebrin/EB3 pathway using BTP2, a small molecule inhibitor of drebrin binding to actin filaments, reduced the invasion of prostate cancer cell lines in 3D in vitro assays. Furthermore, gain- or loss-of-function of drebrin or EB3 by over-expression or siRNA-mediated knockdown increases or decreases invasion of prostate cancer cell lines in 3D in vitro assays, respectively. Finally, expression of a dominant-negative construct that competes with EB3 binding to drebrin, also inhibited invasion of prostate cancer cell lines in 3D in vitro assays. Our findings show that co-ordination of dynamic microtubules and actin filaments by the drebrin/EB3 pathway drives prostate cancer cell invasion and is therefore implicated in disease progression.

Mechanism of the biomolecular synthesis of PEDOT:PSS: importance of heme degradation by hydrogen peroxide.

The use of biomolecules as oxidants for the synthesis of conducting polymers provides an important tool for the control of polymer properties. Using PEDOT: PSS as a representative conducting polymer, we compare a set of heme proteins (soybean peroxidase, cytochrome c, and horseradish peroxidase) used as oxidants. The resulting PEDOT: PSS was characterized with visible and near IR spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, electron spin resonance spectroscopy, and four point probe conductivity measurements. We find that the relative concentrations of bipolarons and polarons vary as a function of the protein used for polymerization. We then show that heme degradation by hydrogen peroxide plays a critical role in determining polymer properties.

Hemoglobin-mediated synthesis of PEDOT:PSS: enhancing conductivity through biological oxidants.

Hemoglobin- and catalase-polymerized PEDOT: PSS were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, visible and near-IR spectroscopy, FTIR, and ESR. Hemoglobin-polymerized PEDOT: PSS possesses bipolarons, while catalase-polymerized PEDOT: PSS is dominated by polarons. Use of heme-bound iron as an oxidant yields PEDOT: PSS with conductivity of 19.5 S cm(-1) in a single-step aqueous reaction.

Inclusive K(S);(0)K(S);(0) resonance production in ep collisions at HERA.

Inclusive K_{S};{0}K_{S};{0} production in ep collisions at the DESY ep collider HERA was studied with the ZEUS detector using an integrated luminosity of 0.5 fb;{-1}. Enhancements in the mass spectrum were observed and are attributed to the production of f_{2}(1270)/a_{2};{0}(1320), f_{2};{'}(1525) and f_{0}(1710). Masses and widths were obtained using a fit which takes into account theoretical predictions based on SU(3) symmetry arguments, and are consistent with the Particle Data Group values. The f_{0}(1710) state, which has a mass consistent with a glueball candidate, was observed with a statistical significance of 5 standard deviations. However, if this state is the same as that seen in gammagamma-->K_{S};{0}K_{S};{0}, it is unlikely to be a pure glueball state.

Lycopene inhibits DNA synthesis in primary prostate epithelial cells in vitro and its administration is associated with a reduced prostate-specific antigen velocity in a phase II clinical study.

Interest in lycopene has focused primarily on its use in the chemoprevention of prostate cancer (CaP); there are few clinical trials involving men with established disease. In addition, most data examining its mechanism of action have been obtained from experiments using immortal cell lines. We report the inhibitory effect(s) of lycopene in primary prostate epithelial cell (PEC) cultures, and the results of a pilot phase II clinical study investigating whole-tomato lycopene supplementation on the behavior of established CaP, demonstrating a significant and maintained effect on prostate-specific antigen velocity over 1 year. These data reinforce the justification for a large, randomized, placebo-controlled study.

Protein kinase WNK3 increases cell survival in a caspase-3-dependent pathway.

The subfamily of WNK (with no K= lysine) protein kinases has four human members and germline mutations in the WNK1 and WNK4 genes were recently found to cause pseudohypoaldosteronism type II, a familial hypertension disease. Here, we describe cloning and functional analysis of a further WNK member, human WNK3. Endogenous WNK3 protein is an active protein kinase when immunoprecipitated from cells and its overexpression increases the survival of HeLa cells by delaying the onset of apoptosis. Suppression of endogenous WNK3 protein by RNA interference accelerates the apoptotic response and promotes the activation of caspase-3. The mechanism of WNK3 action involves interaction with procaspase-3 and heat-shock protein 70. These results demonstrate a role for WNK3 in promoting cell survival and suggest a mechanism at the level of procaspase-3 activation.

PSK, a novel STE20-like kinase derived from prostatic carcinoma that activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and regulates actin cytoskeletal organization.

Degenerate polymerase chain reaction against conserved kinase catalytic subdomains identified 15 tyrosine and serine-threonine kinases expressed in surgically removed prostatic carcinoma tissues, including six receptor kinases (PDGFBR, IGF1-R, VEGFR2, MET, RYK, and EPH-A1), six non-receptor kinases (ABL, JAK1, JAK2, TYK2, PLK-1, and EMK), and three novel kinases. Several of these kinases are oncogenic, and may function in the development of prostate cancer. One of the novel kinases is a new member of the sterile 20 (STE20) family of serine-threonine kinases which we have called prostate-derived STE20-like kinase (PSK) and characterized functionally. PSK encodes an open reading frame of 3705 nucleotides and contains an N-terminal kinase domain. Immunoprecipitated PSK phosphorylates myelin basic protein and transfected PSK stimulates MKK4 and MKK7 and activates the c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Microinjection of PSK into cells results in localization of PSK to a vesicular compartment and causes a marked reduction in actin stress fibers. In contrast, C-terminally truncated PSK (1-349) did not localize to this compartment or induce a decrease in stress fibers demonstrating a requirement for the C terminus. Kinase-defective PSK (K57A) was unable to reduce stress fibers. PSK is the first member of the STE20 family lacking a Cdc42/Rac binding domain that has been shown to regulate both the c-Jun N-terminal kinase mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the actin cytoskeleton.

Use of arbitrarily primed polymerase chain reaction to study Salmonella ecology in a turkey production environment.

Turkeys, liners, waterers, litter, air, and feed weighbacks were sampled for Salmonella. Salmonella species S. simsbury, S. kentucky, S. montevideo, S. senftenberg, and S. ealing were identified at a rate of 54.9, 38.0, 2.8, 2.8, and 1.4% respectively. All isolates were subjected to Salmonella-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and were confirmed as Salmonella-positive by the predicted product, a 457-bp DNA fragment. Biofingerprint patterns of each isolate were generated using arbitrary primer sets, LG6+LG8 and LG6+LG9. These primer sets differentiated between Salmonella serotypes except for S. simsbury and S. senftenberg. No differences in fingerprint patterns were observed among farm isolates that were the same serotype. This similarity suggested that these isolates were from a common origin or that primer sets could not distinguish isolates at the subserotype level. Frequency of Salmonella isolation decreased from Week 10 to 18 of the growout period. Resistance of older birds to Salmonella colonization, due to a more mature gut microflora, may account for this observation. Results demonstrate that arbitrarily primed-PCR (AP-PCR) can effectively differentiate among serotypes except for S. simsbury and S. senftenberg; results regarding potential to differentiate at the subserotype level were inconclusive.

Cholecystokinin receptors in human pancreatic cancer cell lines.

Recent studies have suggested that cholecystokinin (CCK) receptors may play a role in the development and growth of pancreatic cancers. We detected the expression of mRNA encoding CCK-A and CCK-B receptors in eight human pancreatic tumour cell lines using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), but not by RNase protection assays. The K-ras gene, which can be activated by G-coupled protein receptors such as CCK receptors, was mutated in codon 12 in five of the cell lines. In addition, Mia PaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells did not respond to CCK or gastrin in cell proliferation or focal adhesion kinase (FAK) phosphorylation assays. In contrast, mouse NIH3T3 fibroblasts transfected with human CCK-B receptor (NIH3T3CCK-BR) showed increased proliferation and phosphorylation to the peptides. Also, radioligand binding studies indicated that Mia PaCa-2 cells had approximately 12.5-fold less CCK-B receptors than NIH3T3CCK-BR. Our results suggest that in Mia PaCa-2 cells, CCK receptors may not play a crucial role in supporting cell growth.

Central nervous system relapse of treated stage IV neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is the most common extracranial solid tumor in pediatrics. The long-term survival of patients with advanced-stage neuroblastoma has remarkably improved secondary to aggressive treatment protocols including autologous bone marrow transplant (BMT). As a result, a different natural history of this disease is being reported with unusual, late manifestations. The central nervous system (CNS), once a rare site of disease, is being involved with increasing frequency. Appropriate neuroimaging in these patients is important. Two cases of patients with treated stage IV neuroblastoma who developed isolated CNS metastases are presented. The proposed pathogenesis and neuroradiologic manifestations of this complication are reviewed.

Antithrombin-III for the treatment of chemotherapy-induced organ dysfunction following bone marrow transplantation.

A hypercoaguable state has been shown to follow high-dose chemotherapy for bone marrow transplantation (BMT). Deficiency of the natural anticoagulants, antithrombin III (AT-III), protein C and protein S correlate with organ dysfunction following BMT. We treated 10 patients with severe post-BMT organ dysfunction with AT-III concentrate. Indications for treatment included AT-III anticoagulant level less than 88% and life-threatening single or multiorgan dysfunction. All patients were loaded with 50 units/kg AT-III every 8 h for three doses followed by 50 units/kg/day each day for 3-12 days. Clinical improvement was seen within 1-5 days of start of therapy in all patients. Patients with veno-occlusive disease (VOD) showed a decrease in platelet consumption in nine of nine patients, resolution of hepatic tenderness in six of eight patients, and reduction of severe ascites and weight gain in four of five patients. The probability of death due to VOD and life-threatening organ dysfunction was significantly less in the AT-III-treated group when compared to a historical control group receiving the same preparative regimen (P = 0.047 and P = 0.034, respectively). Significant improvements in organ dysfunction following AT-III treatment in this small study supports a causal relationship between AT-III deficiency and post-BMT chemotherapy-induced organ dysfunction.

Intraoperative identification of parathyroid gland pathology: a new approach.

Technetium 99m-sestamibi, a radiopharmaceutical used for the diagnostic imaging of abnormal parathyroid tissue, and the Neoprobe 1000, a hand-held, gamma-detecting probe, were used concurrently, during surgical exploration, in three children with hyperparathyroidism. This novel combination assisted with the identification of an ectopic mediastinal parathyroid adenoma and with the localization of multiple hyperplastic parathyroid glands. 99mTc-sestamibi combined with the Neoprobe 1000 may prove to be a useful adjunctive technique for the intraoperative localization of abnormal parathyroid tissue in selected patients.

Viral infection and cancer.

Infection with specific viruses has a role in the pathogenesis of some cancers in human beings. However, the incidence of such cancers is much lower than the frequency of virus infection, suggesting either that infection alone does not result in cancer and that cellular events in addition to the presence of the virus must occur, or that cancer occurs only if viral proteins are expressed in an appropriate cell type or in an immunocompromised host. Molecular analysis of viruses found in association with cancer has revealed that they function, at least in part, by encoding proteins which can associate with and subvert the function of host cell-encoded tumour suppressor proteins which regulate pathways of growth arrest and apoptosis. Better understanding of the mechanisms underlying this association will have diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic implications in the near future.

HPV16 E7 oncoprotein deregulates B-myb expression: correlation with targeting of p107/E2F complexes.

HPV16 is a human tumour virus encoding two principal oncoproteins, E6 and E7. Expression of E7 can induce DNA synthesis in quiescent cells and this property coincides with its ability to bind to the cell proteins pRb and p107. As these cell proteins are regulators of the transcription factor E2F, we have investigated whether the interaction with E7 could result in induction of cell cycle regulated genes. We show that B-myb, whose induction at the G1/S boundary is regulated by release from E2F mediated transcriptional repression, is a target for transcriptional activation by E7 and is the first E7 responsive cell gene to be identified. E7 transactivation leads to both inappropriate transcription of B-myb during G1 and constitutive over-expression in cycling cells. B-Myb plays an essential role in cell cycle progression, and activation by E7 is likely to contribute to the mitogenic activity of the viral oncoprotein. Regulation of the B-myb promoter in NIH3T3 cells correlates with binding of distinct p107-containing complexes at the E2F binding site, and analysis of E7 mutants confirms that B-myb transcription in these cells is regulated through interactions with p107 rather than pRb. These results provide the first example of a potentially specific role for p107 in the regulation of the cell cycle.

Human papillomavirus type 16 E7 regulates E2F and contributes to mitogenic signalling.

We have produced human papillomavirus type 16 E7 protein in a bacterial expression system and examined the mitogenic activity of this protein in Swiss 3T3 cells after scrape loading. The ability of E7 to induce cellular DNA synthesis in quiescent mouse fibroblasts is strongly enhanced by the presence of a single growth factor such as insulin. Although only weakly mitogenic, introduction of E7 alone resulted in the rapid induction of the transcriptionally active form of E2F, which was not enhanced further by the addition of insulin. Mutant E7 proteins defective for RB binding failed to induce the active form of E2F or act synergistically with insulin to stimulate DNA synthesis. The ability of E7 to regulate E2F may therefore be necessary, but is not sufficient, for full induction of DNA synthesis.

A social-psychological perspective of dietary quality in later adulthood.

Nutrition has been implicated in the quality of life of older adults, beyond proving essential nutrients and calories. Recent concern about malnutrition has prompted a broader social-psychological approach to nutrition and aging research. The present investigation examined the relationship of self-actualization and social support to dietary intake. Data from 100 community-dwelling adults, ages 60-83 years, revealed significant and positive associations between the predictor variables and vitamin A, B vitamin complex, iron, and dietary fiber. Specifically, the personality trait of being internally motivated and the presence of support from family, friends and neighbors were found to positively influence dietary quality.

Bone mass in healthy children: measurement with quantitative DXA.

Dual-energy x-ray bone densitometry was used to study the lumbar vertebral bone mass in 218 healthy children (134 girls and 84 boys) aged 1-19 years. Vertebral bone mass increased with weight, age, and pubertal Tanner stage. Results of multiple regression analyses showed that Tanner stage and weight were the best predictive indicators of bone mass and bone mineral density. The influences of age, sex, race, physical activity, and diet were not significant when Tanner stage and weight were controlled. Two tables of predictive intervals for lumbar vertebral bone mineral density in healthy children (one based on Tanner stage and weight; the other, on age and weight) are presented. With normative data now available for use with this precise technique, clinicians can better detect abnormal bone mineral density in children and evaluate changes in mineralization over time.