Robersoncox0625
There is a need to optimize the current clinical outcome measures in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) incorporating patients' and caregivers' perspectives. The aim of this study is to evaluate the psychometric properties (validity, reliability and sensitivity to change) of a set of existing questionnaires and newly created items grouped in a "toolbox" to assess the impact of SMA on the physical, psychological and activities of daily living domains of the patient's life.
This non-interventional, prospective study will be conducted at 12 neuromuscular clinics specialized in the management of patients with SMA in Spain. AZD9291 order An expert panel of pediatric and adult neurologists, rehabilitation physicians, and a patient representative participated in the study design and selected key disease dimensions to explore and their respective measurements mobility-independence, fatigue and endurance, pain, fatigability, breathing and voice, sleep and rest, and vulnerability. Patients aged 2years or older with a confirmed diagnosis of 5q-autosomal recessive SMA (genetic confirmation of homozygous deletion or heterozygosity predictive of loss of function of the SMN1 gene) will be recruited.
The development of robust outcome measures in collaboration with the patient community is essential to determine what is meaningful to patients and their caregivers. This study will provide us with a comprehensive set of tools to better capture the course of the disease and the response to treatments.
The development of robust outcome measures in collaboration with the patient community is essential to determine what is meaningful to patients and their caregivers. This study will provide us with a comprehensive set of tools to better capture the course of the disease and the response to treatments.Prostate cancer is the second most commonly diagnosed cancer in men and one of the main leading causes of cancer deaths among men worldwide. Rapid uncontrolled growth and the ability to metastasize to other sites are key hallmarks in cancer development and progression. The Rho family of GTPases and its activators the GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs) are required for regulating cancer cell proliferation and migration. StarD13 is a GAP for Rho GTPases, specifically for RhoA and Cdc42. We have previously shown that StarD13 acts as a tumor suppressor in astrocytoma as well as breast and colorectal cancer. In this study, we performed a functional comparative analysis of StarD13 targets/and or interacting molecules to understand the general role that StarD13 plays in cancers. Our data highlight the importance of StarD13 in modulating several hallmarks of cancer. Findings from database mining and immunohistochemistry revealed that StarD13 is underexpressed in prostate cancers, in addition knocking down Stard13 increased cancer cell proliferation, consistent with its role as a tumor suppressor. Stard13 depletion, however, led to an increase in cell adhesion, which inhibited 2D cell migration. Most interestingly, StarD13 depletion increases invasion and matrix degradation, at least in part, through its regulation of Cdc42. Altogether, the data presented suggest that StarD13 acts as a tumor suppressor inhibiting prostate cancer cell invasion.
Hypercortisolism has detrimental effects on bone metabolism with the consequences of bone loss and bone fractures. We aimed to evaluate the frequency of vertebral fragility fractures and to determine the factors associated with Cushing's syndrome (CS).
A total of 135 patients diagnosed with Cushing's syndrome [108 patients with Cushing's disease and 27 patients with adrenocortical adenoma] and 107 healthy controls were included in this cross-sectional study. The available clinical, laboratory, and radiologic data of patients with CS were recorded, retrospectively. Lateral vertebral radiograms were evaluated for vertebral fragility fractures according to Genant's semi-quantitative method. Bone mineral density (BMD) was determined using a Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA).
Vertebral fragility fractures (VFs) were observed in 75.3% (n = 61) of the patients. The median number of VFs was six (min-max 2-12). All patients with vertebral fractures had thoracic VF, and 50.7% of the patients had lumbar fragacture frequency was higher in CS patients. Most of the patients with vertebral fractures had multiple fractures. Although low lumbar BMD was associated with VF, patients with CS with normal bone densitometry could experience VF. Vertebral radiograph evaluations as a part of routine evaluation for silent vertebral fractures may help to prevent further fractures in patients with CS.
Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) has been studied for the treatment of metabolic syndrome with varying success. However, the possibility of utilizing FMT to prevent metabolic syndrome is to date unknown.
Secondary analysis of a previously published double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled pilot trial of FMT in obese metabolically healthy patients was conducted. Post-prandial glucose and insulin levels were measured (NCT02741518).
A total of 22 patients were enrolled, 11 in each arm. There were no baseline differences in the area under the curve (AUC) of glucose or insulin in the FMT group compared to placebo. There was a significant change in glucose AUC at week 12 compared to baseline, and in the insulin AUC at week 6 compared to baseline in the FMT group vs. placebo (change in glucose AUC (mg/dl × 60min) 579 vs 1978, p = 0.03) (change in insulin AUC (μU/ml × 60min) 137 vs 2728, p = 0.01).
These data suggest that FMT may have a potential role in preventing the development of metabolic syndrome in patients with obesity.
These data suggest that FMT may have a potential role in preventing the development of metabolic syndrome in patients with obesity.The authorization for emergency use of a vaccine against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has been issued in diverse countries in December 2020, and additional vaccine candidates soon may be cleared for a similar emergency use. If it is reasonable to believe that in some Western countries most people may be vaccinated by the end of 2021, insufficient supplies, access inequities across countries, and deficiencies in enforcing the participatory engagement of communities will present important challenges for the achievement of sufficient vaccination coverage worldwide in less than 2-3 years. A possible strategy for bridging the gap until full vaccine deployment is based on the integration of improved non-pharmaceutical measures and recently authorized pharmaceutical interventions to reduce as much as possible hospitalizations and deaths in the coming months, when recurring infection peaks are expected.