Singletonjohnson2087

Hereditary retinoblastoma is attributed to germline mutation in an RB1 tumor suppressor gene followed by somatic mutation in the other allele. This report details a case of leiomyosarcoma of the bladder in a 24-year-old man with a history of retinoblastoma treated by enucleation and radiotherapy in infancy. Leiomyosarcoma is the most common secondary soft tissue malignancy in retinoblastoma survivors; however, leiomyosarcoma of the bladder in retinoblastoma survivors is very rare. Survivors of hereditary retinoblastoma should be monitored closely for secondary malignancies, and there should be an increased suspicion of malignancy. Furthermore, tumors can occur outside the field of radiation. OBJECTIVE To devise a new urodynamic imaging framework that can provide time-resolved visualization of urinary flow and urethral deformation during the initiation phase of voiding. METHODS Contrast-enhanced urodynamic vector projectile imaging (CE-UroVPI) was devised using the principles of high-frame rate ultrasound, microbubble contrast agents, and flow vector mapping. CE-UroVPI was implemented using a research-purpose ultrasound scanner (5 MHz frequency) and commercial contrast agents (USphere Prime). The performance of CE-UroVPI was evaluated using two custom-designed deformable urethra phantoms - a healthy model and a diseased model with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) - that respectively simulate urodynamics in the urinary tract with and without mechanical obstruction. The corresponding spatiotemporal urodynamics were investigated and analyzed. RESULTS Using a frame rate of 1,250 fps that corresponds to 0.8 ms time resolution, CE-UroVPI effectively depicted the transient urodynamic events during the initiation phase of voiding. Anomalous spatiotemporal characteristics were observed in the urodynamics of the BPH-obstructed urethra. Specifically, upstream from the obstruction site, a transient surge in flow speed was observed in the first 100 ms of voiding. Also, downstream from the obstruction site, complex urodnyamics had emerged in the forms of flow jet and vortices. These anomalies were not found in the healthy urethra. CONCLUSIONS CE-UroVPI is the first imaging framework that can visualize complex urodynamics over an entire voiding episode including its initiation phase. This new tool may be used to potentially gain new insight into the causal relationships between urethral morphokinetic factors and lower urinary tract symptoms. Prevention strategies have been effective in many areas of human health, yet have not been utilized for lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) or bladder health (BH). This commentary outlines LUTS prevention research initiatives underway within the NIH-sponsored Prevention of Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms Research Consortium (PLUS). Prevention science involves the systematic study of factors associated with health and health problems, termed protective and risk factors, respectively. PLUS is enhancing traditional prevention science approaches through use of 1) a transdisciplinary team science approach, 2) both qualitative and quantitative research methodology (mixed methodology), and 3) community engagement. Important foundational work of PLUS includes development of clear definitions of both BH and disease, as well as a BH measurement instrument that will be validated for use in the general population, adolescents, and Latinx and Spanish-speaking women. The BH measurement instrument will be used in an upcoming nationally-representative cohort study that will measure BH and investigate risk and protective factors. PLUS investigators also developed a conceptual framework to guide their research agenda; this framework organizes a broad array of candidate risk and protective factors that can be studied across the life course of girls and women.1 As PLUS begins to fill existing knowledge gaps with new information, its efforts will undoubtedly be complemented by outside investigators to further advance the science of LUTS prevention and BH across additional populations. Once the BH community has broadened its understanding of modifiable risk and protective factors, intervention studies will be necessary to test LUTS prevention strategies and support public health efforts. LUTS providers may be able to translate this evolving evidence for individual patients under their care and act as BH advocates in their local communities. Multiple carriers may be used to prepare solid dispersions (SDs) for different purposes. The aim of this work is to investigate the effect of the third component on the physical stability and physical aging behavior of cinnarizine-soluplus SDs. HPMC, PVP, sorbitol and citric acid were used as the third component to prepare cinnarizine ternary SDs using hot melt extrusion method. The resultant samples were stored at 25 °C or under stress conditions. Differential scanning calorimetry, powder X-ray diffraction and dissolution tests were performed to investigate the changes of samples during the storage. Infrared spectroscopy was used to evaluate the interactions between drug and carriers. Results showed that the addition of HPMC or PVP enhanced the physical stability of ternary SDs stored at 25 °C rather than those stored under stress conditions. Sorbitol did not show any improvements in physical stability of samples stored at 25 °C or under stress conditions. Surprisingly, the physical stability of samples stored at 25 °C or under stress conditions was enhanced significantly by citric acid due to the ionic and hydrogen bonding interactions. The miscibility between drug and carriers as well as between different carriers should be considered when using multiple carriers. The third component can act as a "linker" by interacting with drug and polymer to enhance the physical stability of SDs effectively. Doxorubicin (DOX) is a broad-spectrum anti-tumor drug, but it has certain limitations in its therapeutic effects due to poor tumor selectivity. Chitosan-based pH-sensitive polymers drug delivery systems could improve DOX's activity and selectivity against tumor cells. Understanding the atomic interaction mechanism between chitosan and DOX at different pH levels is important in the design and application of chitosan-based drug delivery systems. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were performed to investigate the encapsulation and release of DOX by chitosan at different pH levels. Our results show that the protonation state of amine groups of chitosan and the π-π stacking interaction between the conjugated anthraquinone ring of DOX regulate the interaction behavior between chitosan and DOX. Moreover, DOX could gradually release from chitosan at acidic pH environment in tumor tissue. These results revealed the underlying atomic interaction mechanism between DOX and chitosan at various pH levels and may provide novel ideas for the design and application of chitosan-based drug delivery system. OBJECTIVE To design and validate the second edition of the Female Sexual Function questionnaire (FSF-2). MATERIAL AND METHODS A cross-sectional and multicentre study was conducted on 187 women (18-70 years) who completed a test (preliminary questionnaire FSF-2), and then answered a structured anamnesis on female sexual function. selleck kinase inhibitor Four weeks later they completed a retest, which was equal to the test but with an additional question about possible influence of recent events in their sex life. RESULTS The mean age of the women was 43.51 years. Internal consistency of the questionnaire Cronbach's α of the 0.919 test, of structured anamnesis 0.921, of the 0.920 retest. Test-retest reliability mean test scores 30.53 ± 8.605, retest 30.05 ± 8.770, without significant differences. Correlation between total test and retest scores (intraclass correlation coefficient) 0.960, significant (P less then .01); between total test scores and structured anamnesis 0.977, significant (P less then .01). Concordance between test questions and structured anamnesis (kappa index), minimum 0.706, maximum 0.915; between test and retest questions, minimum 0.630, maximum 0.802. Content validity by expert consensus. Criteria validity specificity of the questionnaire exceeding 90% for all items/domains, sensitivity greater than 80%, except for items 5, 6, 9 (70-80%). Validity of the construct through factor analysis, grouping of items into 2 components (they explain 66.586% of variance). CONCLUSIONS The FSF-2 questionnaire is reliable and valid. It evaluates the sexual response of women, describing important aspects of their sexual activity as a couple anticipatory anxiety, initiative, confidence to communicate, preferences and events that may influence. It can detect sexual dysfunction in the couple. INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES The predictors for gastroesophageal varices (GOV) and hemorrhage development have not been well studied in different liver diseases or different population. This study aimed to evaluate whether a new algorithm focusing on chronic hepatitis B (CHB) patients is also applicable to other chronic liver diseases (CLDs) in Chinese population. PATIENTS OR MATERIALS AND METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 659 CHB patients and 386 patients with other CLDs. A total of 439 CHB patients were included in training set, the other 220 CHB patients and other patients with CLDs were included in validation set. A new algorithm for diagnosing GOV was established and its sensitivity and specificity for predicting the varices was verified. RESULTS Multivariable logistic regression revealed that the rough surface of the liver (p less then 0.001), splenic thickness (p less then 0.001), and liver stiffness (p=0.006) were independent predictors of GOV. The new algorithm was considered to be a reliable diagnostic model to evaluate the presence of varices. The AUROC was 0.94 (p less then 0.001) in CHB validation set and 0.90 ( less then 0.001) in non-CHB validation set. When the cut-off value was chosen as -1.048, the sensitivity and specificity in diagnosing GOV in CHB population were 89.1% and 82.5%, respectively. Importantly, the new algorithm accurately predicted the variceal hemorrhage not only in CHB patients, but also in patients with other CLDs. CONCLUSION The new algorithm is regarded as a reliable model to prognosticate varices and variceal hemorrhage, and stratified not only the high-risk CHB patients, but also in patients with other CLDs for developing GOV and variceal bleeding. Vaccination coverage among United States (U.S.) adults for tetanus continues to be lower than the national goals. Education has demonstrated a positive impact on vaccination coverage. However, recently there have been outbreaks of vaccine preventable conditions in areas with high college completion rates. This study assessed the relationship between education and tetanus vaccination. Data from the 2016 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), a self-reported annual survey for non-institutionalized adults in the US from the Centers for Disease Control, was analyzed in 2019. The outcome was up-to-date tetanus vaccination if received within the last 10 years. Education was categorized into 1) grade 11 or less, 2) grade 12/GED, 3) college 1-3 years, and 4) college 4 or more years. Bivariate analyses and multivariable logistic regression were conducted on the analytic sample (n = 417,473) using Stata 15, accounting for weighting and the complex survey design. In 2016, 59.9% of U.S. adults had up-to-date tetanus vaccination.