An Exploratory Pilot Study of Neuropsychological Performance in Two Huntington Disease Centers of Excellence Clinics

OBJECTIVES

To describe the characteristics of patients receiving a clinical referral for neuropsychological evaluation in two Huntington's Disease Society of America Centers of Excellence (HDSA COE). In this exploratory pilot study, we used an empirically supported clinical neuropsychological battery to assess differences in cognitive performance between premanifest and manifest HD patient groups (compared with each other and normative expectations).

METHOD

Clinical data from 76 adult genetically confirmed patients referred for neuropsychological evaluations was retrospectively collected from two HDSA COEs. ANOVA and Chi-square tests were used to compare variables between pre-manifest (n = 14) and manifest (n = 62) groups for demographic, cognitive, neuropsychiatric, and disease severity variables.

RESULTS

Our clinics serviced a disproportionate number of motor manifest patients. Six measures were excluded from analyses due to infrequent administration. The full WAIS-IV Digit Span was disproportionately administered to the manifest group. The premanifest group showed stronger cognitive performance with effect sizes in the large range on subtests of the WAIS-IV Digit Span, HVLT-R, SDMT, and verbal fluency.

CONCLUSIONS

This is the first study to assess an empirically supported neuropsychological research battery in a clinical setting with a relatively large sample size given the rarity of HD. The battery adequately captured areas of impairment across the disease spectrum. Application of the current battery with larger premanifest samples is warranted.

Emerging Insights in Small-Cell Carcinoma of the Genitourinary Tract: From Diagnosis to Novel Therapeutic Horizons

Small-cell carcinomas (SCCs) of the genitourinary (GU) tract are rare malignancies with high metastatic potential. The most common primary sites are the bladder and prostate, but case reports of primary SCC of the kidney, ureter, and urethra also exist. The majority of patients present with gross hematuria, irritative or obstructive urinary symptoms, and symptoms of locoregionally advanced or metastatic disease at initial presentation. SCC of the bladder presents with nodal or metastatic involvement in the majority of cases and requires the use of platinum-based chemotherapy in combination with surgery and/or radiation. SCC of the prostate is most commonly seen in the metastatic castrate-resistant setting, and aggressive variant disease presents with a greater propensity for visceral metastases, osteolytic lesions, and relatively low serum prostate-specific antigen for volume of disease burden. Multiple retrospective and prospective randomized studies support the use of a multimodal approach combining platinum-based systemic therapy regimens with radiation and/or surgery for localized disease. This evidence-based strategy is reflected in multiple consensus guidelines. Emerging data suggest that small-cell bladder and prostate cancers transdifferentiate from a common progenitor of conventional urothelial bladder carcinoma and prostatic acinar adenocarcinoma, respectively. Areas of active basic research include efforts to identify the key genetic and epigenetic drivers involved in the emergence of small cell cancers to exploit them for novel therapies. Here, we review these efforts, discuss diagnosis and currently supported management strategies, and summarize ongoing clinical trials evaluating novel therapies to treat this rare, aggressive GU cancer.

Botryoid-type of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma of the proximal and mid ureter in an adult woman

We report a unique case of botryoid-type embryonal RMS of the proximal and mid ureter in a pregnant 29-year-old woman. The ureteral polyp consisted of a malignant small blue round cell tumor with a myxoid background and contained evidence of foci of immature cartilage and aggregates of epithelial cells reminiscent of hair follicle. Immunohistochemical stains for myogenin and desmin confirmed skeletal muscle, or rhabdomyoblastic, differentiation. The compact epithelial cell fragments reminiscent of hair follicle differentiation were positive for p40. Treatment included 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy (vincristine, actinomycin and cyclophosphamide (VAC). No recurrent or metastatic disease was identified post-surgery.

Myopericytoma of the ureter Incidental finding of a benign slowly growing tumor

We present a unique case of a 6 cm, incidental, ureteral myopericytoma which was initially believed to be an ovarian tumor with mass effect, causing hydroureteronephrosis. A 75-year-old woman presented with a three-month history of postprandial cramps and heartburn. A right distal ureterectomy with en-bloc resection of the mass was performed. Histologically, a well-circumscribed, cellular proliferation of uniform, cytologically bland, spindle cells was identified that had a multilayered, concentric growth pattern around numerous blood vessels. Immunohistochemically, the spindle lesional cells stained strongly and diffusely with antibodies against smooth muscle actin and failed to stain for pancytokeratin and S100 protein.

X-ray therapy safety and awareness education for medical trainees and attending physicians

INTRODUCTION

Medical imaging involving ionizing radiation is common in the clinical setting. Little is known about the level of radiation safety training for medical trainees and attending physicians. We sought to identify the level of radiation safety knowledge and training at the undergraduate, postgraduate, and attending physician level.

METHODS

A 29-question survey was sent by email to two sites in Canada. We pooled the results of medical students, residents, and attending physicians. The primary outcome was to describe the amount of radiation safety training among these groups. The secondary outcomes were to describe the frequency of radiation exposure, level of radiation knowledge, and preferred training method for radiation safety.

RESULTS

Of 115 surveys that were properly completed, 31 (26.9%) medical students, 17 (14.7%) residents, and 67 (58.3%) attending physicians responded. A greater number of medical students (41.9%) reported they had zero hours of training time for radiation safety compared to attending physicians (14.9%) (p<0.05). A higher number of attending physicians (47.8%) and residents (64.7%) participated in patient care involving fluoroscopy daily or at least several times per week compared to medical students (3.2%) (p<0.001). Attending physicians had the greatest number of correct responses to radiation safety questions. Online courses and workshops were the preferred training methods.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiation safety training is an important component of medical education for medical trainees and attending physicians. Current radiation safety training requirements and procedures at various levels of medical training in Canada should be addressed. Implementing radiation safety education may improve adherence to the radiation safety principles.

Chromophobe renal cell cancer tumor seeding after renal biopsy a unique case

We report a unique case for a 1.5 cm Chromophobe Renal Cell Carcinoma (ChRCC) tumor recurrence on the posterior abdominal wall along the renal tumor biopsy tract. This case presented on follow up at 4.5 years after radical nephrectomy T1bN0M0. Pathology was confirmed to be a chRCC with later excision of the mass. We believe the recurrence in this case is due to tumor seeding after multiple Renal Tumor biopsies (RTB) performed before surgery, as the tumor was located along the RTB tract.

Abstract TP146: Rate of Functional Improvement for Stroke Patients Plateaus During Inpatient Rehabilitation

Introduction: Functional outcomes and length of stay (LOS) are common outcome measures in stroke patients at Inpatient Rehabilitation Facilities (IRF).

Aim: To examine trends in functional outcomes among patients with hemorrhagic versus ischemic stroke in IRF.

Methods: Using a prospectively collected database of stroke patients admitted in our health system of 5 IRFs in Houston, we reviewed patients with either ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke between 1/18 to 6/19. The main outcome measure was the FIM scores. The relationship between LOS and FIM score improvement were analyzed using a third order polynomial regression model.

Results: Among 88 patients, 43% were female and 60% had an ischemic stroke. The median LOS was 21 days (IQR14, 26) for all patients; 22 (IQR16, 30) in patients with hemorrhagic stroke; 20.5 (IQR14, 25) in patients with ischemic stroke (P: 0.24). Based on change in FIM, stroke patients benefited the most from IRF in the first 17 days (P<.0001) while the improvement rate declined significantly afterwards with the highest FIM score change of 32. The FIM score changes were not significantly different when adjusting for CMI. There were no significant differences in FIM changes and extent of temporal benefit between ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Moreover, bathing, dressing, tub transfer and walking were the areas of greatest improvement (Median change: 2 for all variables).

Conclusion: Stroke patients in our IRF network benefit the most on FIM in the first 17 days. Further studies are needed to identify factors that could maximize functional gains in IRF.

Fractional Limb Volume in Spina Bifida Fetuses as an Assessment Tool for Postnatal Ambulation

BACKGROUND

Prenatal fractional limb volume (FLV) can be used to assess muscle atrophy in fetuses with myelomeningocele.

OBJECTIVE

We hypothesize that FLV in fetal myelomeningocele (fMMC) repair is different from postnatal repair (PNR). Assessing intrauterine muscle development can predict ambulation.

METHODS

A prospective observational study was performed from July 2012 to April 2016. Demographics, clinical outcomes, and FLV of the fetal thigh were assessed by ultrasound. Ambulation videos were collected from patients over 30 months of age. FLV was compared between the fMMC and PNR groups and between ambulators and non-ambulators. Two-sample t test, ANOVA, Spearman's rho correlation, and Bland-Altman plots were used for analysis. A p value <0.05 was used for statistical significance.

RESULTS

Fifty-nine patients were included, 24 had fMMC and 35 had PNR. Videos were obtained in 47 cases (73%). There was no difference in baseline demographics between the groups. There was no significant change in the fMMC group between the FLV at initial presentation and the repeat at 34 weeks gestation (54.5 ± 28.2 and 62.2% ± 16.4; p = 0.6). In contrast, the FLV in the PNR decreased between the initial evaluation and the repeat at 34 weeks (54.1 ± 27.7 to 35.8 ± 34.1%; p = 0.04). FLV at 34 weeks gestation was higher in the fMMC group as compared to the PNR group (62.2 ± 16.4 vs. 35.8 ± 34.1%; p = 0.02). There was no difference in FLV between ambulators and non-ambulators either at initial evaluation (p = 0.8) or at 34 weeks gestation (p = 0.6).

CONCLUSION

Lower FLV in the PNR group compared to fMMC may suggest in utero muscle atrophy. No correlation was seen between FLV and subsequent ambulation; however, future larger studies may be needed.

Associations of cell cycle genetic variants with aggressive prostate cancer in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial

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Background: The need to differentiate patients at risk for developing aggressive prostate cancer (CaP) from those at risk for less aggressive disease has led to efforts to identify genetic markers to predict disease course and personalize treatment. A study with participants from Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions (JHMI) and Washington University (WU) found single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in cell cycle genes were associated with risk of aggressive CaP. We sought to replicate those results in the European-American population of the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian (PLCO) Cancer Screening Trial. Methods: We focused on variants associated with aggressive CaP in the JHMI and WU cohorts, which included 13 SNPs in 12 genes ( CCNC, CCND3, CCNG1, CCNT2, CDK2, CDK6, MDM2, SKP2, TERF2, WEE1, YWHAB, YWHAH). Variants were genotyped using the Pyrosequencing assay. Patients were classified into high risk (Gleason≥8, pT3b, N+, M+), low risk (Gleason≤7, ≤pT3a, N0, M0) or non-cancer control groups based on clinicopathologic characteristics. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare genotype frequencies of each variant between groups using the dominant model. Results: There were 108 aggressive and 1080 non-aggressive CaP patients, and 1155 controls . CDK6 ( rs8) was associated with increased risk of any CaP (OR 1.2, 95% CI 1.02-1.42; p = 0.032) and high risk disease (OR 1.63, 95% CI 1.09-2.42; p = 0.017) vs. controls. In contrast, the JHMI and WU cohort found CDK6 variants to be protective against aggressive CaP. CCNG1 ( rs11541970) approached significance (p = 0.052) between high risk and control groups, and CCNC conferred a protective effect consistent with the prior study, but did not reach significance (p = 0.101). No associations with any cell cycle gene variants were detected when comparing high and low risk patients. Conclusions: Our study did not replicate the results from the JHMI and WU cohorts. CDK6 predicted an increased risk of developing any CaP and high risk CaP. However, directionality was opposite to the prior study, indicating that this variant is unlikely to be a true predictor of increased risk of or protection from aggressive CaP.

The cost of obesity in radical cystectomy

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Background: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates that nearly 40% of the U.S. population meets the criteria for obesity classification. Several studies have shown that obesity is associated with increased medical morbidity and costs. In this study, we investigated the impact of obesity on the financial burden of radical cystectomy. We hypothesize that the cost of radical cystectomy is greater in obese and morbidly obese patients compared to overweight patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study within the Premier Healthcare Database (Premier Inc., Charlotte, NC), a large, U.S. hospital-based, all-payer database representing approximately 20% of annual inpatient discharges. ICD-9 procedure codes were used to identify all patients who had undergone elective radical cystectomy (57.71, 57.79) from 2003 to 2015, and administrative data was used to extract the costs associated with the index hospitalization. Patients were stratified into three body mass index (BMI) categories: overweight (25 BMI <30), obese (30 ≤ BMI < 40) and morbidly obese (BMI ≥ 40). Quantile regression analysis was performed to examine the effect of BMI category on cost. Results: We identified 12,056 patients who underwent radical cystectomy, 1,406 of whom had data available regarding BMI category. The crude cost of the index hospitalization for radical cystectomy was $24,596 for overweight patients. The costs associated with patients in the obese and morbidly obese categories were $2,158 ( p=0.059) and $5,308 ( p<0.001) higher compared to overweight patients, respectively. Median operative time for overweight, obese, and morbidly obese patients was 346, 391, and 420 minutes, respectively (p=0.0001). Multivariable models were constructed controlling for clinicodemographic, and surgical factors. After adjustment for operative time, there were no longer any statistically significant differences in cost between the BMI categories. Conclusions: The cost of radical cystectomy is significantly greater for obese and morbidly obese patients compared to overweight patients. This increased financial cost associated with obesity difference is driven by increased operative times encountered in obese patients.

Early Administration of Magnesium Sulfate during Open Fetal Myelomeningocele Repair Reduces the Dose of Inhalational Anesthesia

<b><i>Introduction:</i></b> Optimal uterine relaxation is achieved through higher minimum alveolar concentration (MAC) of inhalational anesthetics, increasing risks to mother and fetus. Our objective was to determine if earlier administration of magnesium sulfate would reduce the requirement of inhalational anesthetics in fetal myelomeningocele repair. <b><i>Materials and Methods:</i></b> Prospective observational study of fetal myelomeningocele repair was performed from September 2011 to August 2017. Groups compared were: (1) magnesium sulfate at uterine closure; (2) magnesium sulfate at maternal skin incision. Maternal demographics, anesthetic agents, intraoperative complications, and pregnancy outcomes were reviewed. A Student <i>t</i> test was used for analysis. <b><i>Results:</i></b> There were 30 cases in group 1 and 21 cases in group 2. There was no difference in gestational age at intervention (24.92 ± 0.62 vs. 25.22 ± 0.47 weeks, <i>p</i> = 0.07) or at delivery (34.83 ± 2.77 vs. 33.98 ± 3.83 weeks, <i>p</i> = 0.38) between groups 1 and 2, respectively. The maximum MAC of sevoflurane was significantly lower in group 2 (1.84 ± 0.25 vs. 1.05 ± 0.28, <i>p</i> &#x3c; 0.0001). There was no difference in the average dose of phenylephrine used. <b><i>Discussion:</i></b> Magnesium sulfate infusion initiated earlier in open fetal surgery reduces the total anesthetic exposure to the fetus.

Improving Cancer Outcomes for Vietnamese Speaking Migrants: A Mixed Methods Study

Background: Prompt diagnosis of symptomatic cancer has been shown to improve survival and quality of life. The time from noticing a bodily change and seeking medical help has been termed the 'symptom appraisal interval'. The processes people undertake during symptom appraisal are impacted by numerous factors, including culture. Aim: We aimed to explore culturally specific factors that impact symptom appraisal and help seeking for a cancer diagnosis in Vietnamese-speaking Australians and to develop a culturally relevant community-based symptom awareness campaign. Methods: We used a mixed methods approach to survey and interview people who had not experienced cancer and interviewed people with a recent diagnosis of cancer. We also tested campaign materials in focus groups and interviews with community members. Results: 28 people participated in the interview study and 65 completed surveys. We found poor symptom recognition and a prevailing Taoist or traditional Eastern model of health and illness. There was also a strong emphasis on being healthy for your family and fatalistic beliefs. Home remedies and Eastern medicine were commonly used for cancer symptom management and the people with cancer were shocked at their cancer diagnosis. Conclusion: The study findings were used to tailor a symptom awareness campaign for Vietnamese speaking communities to raise awareness of cancer symptoms and to prompt people to discuss symptoms with family and their general practitioner sooner to facilitate timely diagnosis and better outcomes.

Spatial social polarization and birth outcomes: preterm birth and infant mortality - New York City, 2010-14

AIMS

This study assessed the relationship between spatial social polarization measured by the index of the concentration of the extremes (ICE) and preterm birth (PTB) and infant mortality (IM) in New York City. A secondary aim was to examine the ICE measure in comparison to neighborhood poverty.

METHODS

The sample included singleton births to adult women in New York City, 2010-2014 ( n=532,806). Three ICE measures were employed at the census tract level: ICE - Income (persons in households in the bottom vs top 20th percentile of US annual household income), ICE -Race/Ethnicity (black non-Hispanic vs white non-Hispanic populations), and ICE - Income + Race/Ethnicity combined. Preterm birth was defined as birth before 37 weeks' gestation. Infant mortality was defined as a death before one year of age. A two-level generalized linear model with random intercept was utilized adjusting for individual-level covariates.

RESULTS

Preterm birth prevalence was 7.1% and infant mortality rate was 3.4 per 1000 live births. Women who lived in areas with the least privilege were more likely to have a preterm birth or infant mortality as compared to women living in areas with the most privilege. After adjusting for covariates, this association remained for preterm birth (ICE - Income: Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) 1.16 (1.10-1.21); ICE - Race/Ethnicity: AOR 1.41 (1.34-1.49); ICE - Income + Race/Ethnicity: AOR 1.36 (1.29-1.43)) and IM (ICE - Race/Ethnicity (AOR 1.80 (1.43-2.28) and ICE - Income + Race/Ethnicity (AOR 1.54 (1.23-1.94)). High neighborhood poverty was associated with PTB only (AOR 1.09 (1.04-1.14).

CONCLUSIONS

These results provide preliminary evidence for the use of the ICE measure in examining structural barriers to healthy birth outcomes.

Retained Digital Flexible Ureteroscopes

This report documents two instances of retained flexible ureteroscopes at the time of ureteroscopy and laser lithotripsy in a healthy 37-year-old male and a 53-year-old male with a pelvic kidney. We describe maneuvers to remove the ureteroscope endoscopically in the first case, while the second case required conversion to open surgery for ureteroscope extrication.

An Indwelling Ureteral Stent Forgotten for Over 12 Years

Ureteral stents are one of the most commonly used urologic devices with the purpose of establishing and maintaining ureteral patency. They are also associated with a number of complications including infection, migration, stent-related symptoms, and encrustation, leading to lithiasis. Prolonged stent dwell time is associated with a greater degree of these complications. We present the case of a 36-year-old man who presented with a severely encrusted ureteral stent that had been placed 12.5 years prior for an obstructive left-sided ureteral stone and was lost to follow-up. The patient underwent a combination of percutaneous nephrolithomy, cystolitholapaxy, and ureteroscopy to remove the stent and associated 1.7 cm renal pelvic stone and 4.1 cm bladder stone, necessitating two operative sittings to render him stone free.

Improved upper limits on the stochastic gravitational-wave background from 2009-2010 LIGO and Virgo data

Gravitational waves from a variety of sources are predicted to superpose to create a stochastic background. This background is expected to contain unique information from throughout the history of the Universe that is unavailable through standard electromagnetic observations, making its study of fundamental importance to understanding the evolution of the Universe. We carry out a search for the stochastic background with the latest data from the LIGO and Virgo detectors. Consistent with predictions from most stochastic gravitational-wave background models, the data display no evidence of a stochastic gravitational-wave signal. Assuming a gravitational-wave spectrum of Ω_{GW}(f)=Ω_{α}(f/f_{ref})^{α}, we place 95% confidence level upper limits on the energy density of the background in each of four frequency bands spanning 41.5-1726 Hz. In the frequency band of 41.5-169.25 Hz for a spectral index of α=0, we constrain the energy density of the stochastic background to be Ω_{GW}(f)<5.6×10^{-6}. For the 600-1000 Hz band, Ω_{GW}(f)<0.14(f/900  Hz)^{3}, a factor of 2.5 lower than the best previously reported upper limits. We find Ω_{GW}(f)<1.8×10^{-4} using a spectral index of zero for 170-600 Hz and Ω_{GW}(f)<1.0(f/1300  Hz)^{3} for 1000-1726 Hz, bands in which no previous direct limits have been placed. The limits in these four bands are the lowest direct measurements to date on the stochastic background. We discuss the implications of these results in light of the recent claim by the BICEP2 experiment of the possible evidence for inflationary gravitational waves.

Search for gravitational waves associated with γ-ray bursts detected by the interplanetary network

We present the results of a search for gravitational waves associated with 223 γ-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the InterPlanetary Network (IPN) in 2005-2010 during LIGO's fifth and sixth science runs and Virgo's first, second, and third science runs. The IPN satellites provide accurate times of the bursts and sky localizations that vary significantly from degree scale to hundreds of square degrees. We search for both a well-modeled binary coalescence signal, the favored progenitor model for short GRBs, and for generic, unmodeled gravitational wave bursts. Both searches use the event time and sky localization to improve the gravitational wave search sensitivity as compared to corresponding all-time, all-sky searches. We find no evidence of a gravitational wave signal associated with any of the IPN GRBs in the sample, nor do we find evidence for a population of weak gravitational wave signals associated with the GRBs. For all IPN-detected GRBs, for which a sufficient duration of quality gravitational wave data are available, we place lower bounds on the distance to the source in accordance with an optimistic assumption of gravitational wave emission energy of 10(-2)M⊙c(2) at 150 Hz, and find a median of 13 Mpc. For the 27 short-hard GRBs we place 90% confidence exclusion distances to two source models: a binary neutron star coalescence, with a median distance of 12 Mpc, or the coalescence of a neutron star and black hole, with a median distance of 22 Mpc. Finally, we combine this search with previously published results to provide a population statement for GRB searches in first-generation LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors and a resulting examination of prospects for the advanced gravitational wave detectors.

Search for gravitational waves associated with γ-ray bursts detected by the interplanetary network

We present the results of a search for gravitational waves associated with 223 γ-ray bursts (GRBs) detected by the InterPlanetary Network (IPN) in 2005-2010 during LIGO's fifth and sixth science runs and Virgo's first, second, and third science runs. The IPN satellites provide accurate times of the bursts and sky localizations that vary significantly from degree scale to hundreds of square degrees. We search for both a well-modeled binary coalescence signal, the favored progenitor model for short GRBs, and for generic, unmodeled gravitational wave bursts. Both searches use the event time and sky localization to improve the gravitational wave search sensitivity as compared to corresponding all-time, all-sky searches. We find no evidence of a gravitational wave signal associated with any of the IPN GRBs in the sample, nor do we find evidence for a population of weak gravitational wave signals associated with the GRBs. For all IPN-detected GRBs, for which a sufficient duration of quality gravitational wave data are available, we place lower bounds on the distance to the source in accordance with an optimistic assumption of gravitational wave emission energy of 10(-2)M⊙c(2) at 150 Hz, and find a median of 13 Mpc. For the 27 short-hard GRBs we place 90% confidence exclusion distances to two source models: a binary neutron star coalescence, with a median distance of 12 Mpc, or the coalescence of a neutron star and black hole, with a median distance of 22 Mpc. Finally, we combine this search with previously published results to provide a population statement for GRB searches in first-generation LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors and a resulting examination of prospects for the advanced gravitational wave detectors.

Gall bladder rupture associated with cholecystitis in a domestic ferret (Mustela putorius)

A six‐year‐old neutered female albino ferret was presented with an acute episode of lethargy and anorexia. Clinical examination revealed marked cranial abdominal pain. A severe neutrophilic leukocytosis was present. Abdominal ultrasound was consistent with a diffuse peritonitis and severe bile duct inflammation. Cytology of the abdominal effusion revealed bile peritonitis. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and the gall bladder appeared inflamed with multiple perforations. A cholecystectomy was performed. The ferret recovered without complication. Bacteriological culture of the bile and gall bladder yielded a pure growth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Histopathological analysis of the gall bladder and liver was consistent with a marked cholecystitis and cholangiohepatitis. On the basis of sensitivity testing, the ferret was treated with marbofloxacin for one month. No complications or reoccurrence were seen up to 1 year after the diagnosis. To the author's knowledge, this is the first report of bile peritonitis secondary to gall bladder rupture in a ferret.

Constraints on cosmic strings from the LIGO-Virgo gravitational-wave detectors

Cosmic strings can give rise to a large variety of interesting astrophysical phenomena. Among them, powerful bursts of gravitational waves (GWs) produced by cusps are a promising observational signature. In this Letter we present a search for GWs from cosmic string cusps in data collected by the LIGO and Virgo gravitational wave detectors between 2005 and 2010, with over 625 days of live time. We find no evidence of GW signals from cosmic strings. From this result, we derive new constraints on cosmic string parameters, which complement and improve existing limits from previous searches for a stochastic background of GWs from cosmic microwave background measurements and pulsar timing data. In particular, if the size of loops is given by the gravitational backreaction scale, we place upper limits on the string tension Gμ below 10(-8) in some regions of the cosmic string parameter space.

Imaging fluorescently labeled complexes by means of multidimensional correlative light and transmission electron microscopy: practical considerations

These days the common ground between structural biology and molecular biology continues to grow thanks to the biomolecular insights offered by correlative microscopy, even though the vision of combining insights from different imaging tools has been around for nearly four decades. The use of correlative imaging methods to dissect the cell's internal structure is progressing faster than ever as shown by the boom in the number of methodological approaches available for correlative microscopy studies, each designed to address a specific scientific question. In this chapter, we will present a relatively straightforward approach to combining information from fluorescence microscopy and electron microscopy at the supramolecular level. The method combines live-cell and/or confocal laser microscopy with classical sample preparation for transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thereby allowing the integration of dynamic details of subcellular processes with insights about the organelles and molecular machinery involved. We illustrate the applicability of this multidimensional correlative microscopy approach on cultured Caco-2 colorectal cancer cells exposed to fluorescently labeled cisplatin, and discuss how these methods can deepen our understanding of key cellular processes, such as drug uptake and cell fate.

Innervation of tissue-engineered recombinant human collagen-based corneal substitutes: a comparative in vivo confocal microscopy study

PURPOSE

To compare reinnervation in recombinant human collagen-based corneal substitutes with allografts during a 1-year postimplantation follow-up period in pigs. A retrospective comparison to innervation in porcine collagen-based biosynthetic grafts was also performed.

METHODS

Pigs received a corneal allograft or a substitute made of either recombinant human type-I or -III collagen. In vivo confocal microscopic examination of the central cornea of surgical and untouched control eyes before surgery and at 2, 6, and 12 months after surgery was performed to quantify the number, density, and diameter of nerves at various corneal depths.

RESULTS

By 12 months after surgery, the number and density of regenerated nerves in the anterior and deep anterior corneal stroma recovered to preoperative and control levels in both types of substitute grafts and in the allografts. In the subepithelial and subbasal regions, however, significantly fewer nerves were detected relative to those in control subjects at 12 months, regardless of graft type (P < 0.05), similar to the behavior of porcine collagen-based biosynthetic grafts. An absence of thick stromal nerve trunks (diameter, >10 mum) in all grafts, irrespective of material type, indicated that nerve regeneration in grafts was accompanied by persistent morphologic changes.

CONCLUSIONS

Nerve regeneration in recombinant human collagen-based biosynthetic corneal grafts proceeded similarly to that in allograft tissue, demonstrating the suitability of recombinant human collagen constructs as nerve-friendly corneal substitutes. Furthermore, only minor differences were noted between type-I and -III collagen grafts, indicating an insensitivity of nerve regeneration to initial collagen type.

Helicobacter pylori eradication in gastric MALT lymphoma: Results of 316 patients treated inside and outside of a clinical trial

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Background: Cure of infection induces remissions in most patients with early stage Helicobacter pylori- (Hp-) positive gastric MALT (mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue) lymphoma (GML). We compared the long-term outcome of 120 patients treated within a multicenter trial to that of 196 routinely treated patients. Methods: 120 patients with stage I1E disease from a prospective trial (cohort 1) were compared to 196 patients with GML treated outside a trail by sole Hp-eradication (cohort 2). The latter were evaluated in retrospect and only a minority had a complete staging at diagnosis. Histology was the standard for remission evaluation in all patients and performed by the same pathologist (MS). B-cell-clonality and the t(11;18) were assessed in cohort 1-patients. Results: Median endoscopic follow-up was 79 months (range, 1–121) in cohort 1-patients and 27 months (range, 0–120) in cohort 2-patients. In 41% of the cohort 2-patients no or one control endoscopy was performed after a first CR. Most patients are in continuous complete histological remission in both cohorts. 3 cohort 1- and 5 cohort 2-patients relapsed. 16 cohort 1- and 13 cohort 2-patients exhibited histological residual disease (RD) during follow up after a first CR; a watch-and-wait strategy was applied, and most entered into a second CR. Conclusions: Hp-eradication results in long term CR in the majority of patients with GML in both cohorts. Duration of remission, rate of relapse, and RD were similar, regardless of incomplete staging and follow-up procedures and higher age in the cohort 2-patients.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

A rare genotype of Cryptococcus gattii caused the cryptococcosis outbreak on Vancouver Island (British Columbia, Canada)

Cryptococcus gattii causes life-threatening infection of the pulmonary and central nervous systems in hosts with normal immunity and traditionally has been considered to be restricted geographically to tropical and subtropical climates. The recent outbreak of C. gattii in the temperate climate of Vancouver Island, BC, Canada, led to a collaborative investigation. The objectives of the current study were to ascertain the environmental source of the outbreak infections, survey the molecular types of the outbreak and environmental cryptococcal isolates, and determine the extent of genetic diversity among the isolates. PCR-fingerprinting and amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) were used to examine the genotypes, and mating assays were performed to determine the mating type of the isolates. All outbreak and environmental isolates belonged to C. gattii. Concordant results were obtained by using PCR-fingerprinting and AFLP analysis. The vast majority of clinical and veterinary infections were caused by isolates of the molecular type VGII/AFLP6, but two were caused by molecular type VGI/AFLP4. All environmental isolates belonged to molecular type VGII/AFLP6. Two or three subtypes were observed within VGII/AFLP6 among outbreak and environmental isolates. All mating-competent isolates were of the alpha-mating type. The emergence of this usually tropical pathogen on Vancouver Island highlights the changing distribution of this genotype and emphasizes the importance of an ongoing collaborative effort to monitor the global epidemiology of this yeast.

Modeling SSI financial eligibility and simulating the effect of policy options

This article simulates eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) among the elderly, analyzes factors affecting participation, and looks at the potential effects of various options to modify financial eligibility standards for the federal SSI program. We find that in the estimated noninstitutional elderly population of 30.2 million in the United States in 1991, approximately 2 million individuals aged 65 or older were eligible for SSI (a 6.6 percent rate of eligibility). Our overall estimate of the rate of participation among eligible elderly is approximately 63 percent, suggesting that more than a third of those who are eligible do not participate in the program. The results of our analysis of factors affecting participation among the eligible elderly show that expected SSI benefits and a number of demographic and socioeconomic variables are associated with the probability of participation. We also simulate the effects of various policy options on the poverty rate, poverty gap, annual program cost, the number of participants, and the average estimated benefits among participants. The simulations consider the potential effects of five policy alternatives: Increase the general income exclusion (GIE) from $20 to $80. Increase the earned income exclusion (EIE) from $65 to $260. Increase the federal benefit rate (FBR) by $50 for individuals and $75 for couples and eliminate the GIE. Increase the asset threshold to $3,000 for individuals and $4,500 for couples. Increase the asset threshold to $6,000 for individuals and $9,000 for couples. Using 1991 microdata from the Survey of Income and Program Participation (SIPP) matched to Social Security Administration administrative records and making adjustments reflecting aggregate program statistics, we present the results of our simulations for December 1999. The results show substantial variation in the simulated effects of the five policy alternatives along the various outcome dimensions considered. The simulated effects on the poverty gap of the elderly population range from a 7.9 percent reduction ("Increase the GIE from $20 to $80") to a 0.1 percent reduction ("Increase the EIE from $65 to $260"). All simulated interventions are expected to increase the rate of SSI participation among the elderly from a high of 20.3 percent ("Increase the GIE from $20 to $80") to a low of 0.5 percent ("Increase the EIE from $65 to $260"). We also find that the interventions that have greater estimated effects in terms of increased participation and reduced poverty tend to cost more. At the high end, we estimate that increasing the GIE from $20 to $80 could raise annual federal SSI cash benefit outlays by about 46 percent, compared with only 0.9 percent for increasing the EIE from $65 to $260. Similar to the EIE intervention, raising the resource thresholds by 50 percent would reduce the overall poverty gap of the elderly by only 0.2 percent, would increase SSI participation only modestly (by 1.3 percent), but would entail slightly higher program costs (by 1.4 percent). Increasing the asset threshold by 200 percent would have higher estimated effects on all three outcomes, but it would still be associated with relatively low increases in both costs and benefits. Finally, the simulated effects on the three key outcomes of increasing the FBR by $50 for individuals and $75 for couples, combined with eliminating the GIE, are relatively large but are clearly less substantial than increasing the GIE from $20 to $80. This work relies on data from the SIPP matched to administrative data on federal SSI benefits that provide a more accurate picture of SSI participation than has been feasible for previous studies. We simulate eligibility for federal SSI benefits by applying the program rules to detailed information on the characteristics of individuals and couples based on the rich array of demographic and socioeconomic data in the SIPP, particularly the comprehensive information SIPP provides on assets and monthly income. A probit model is estimated to analyze factors affecting participation among the eligible elderly. Finally, we conduct the policy simulations using altered program rules represented by the policy alternatives and predicted participation probabilities to estimate outcomes under simulated program rules. We compare those simulated outcomes to observed outcomes under current program rules. The results of our simulations are conditional on the characteristics of participants and eligibles in 1991, but they also reflect aggregate adjustments capturing substantial changes in overall participation and program benefit levels between 1991 and 1999.