ADHD Endophenotypes in Caribbean Families Cervantes-Henríquez, M. L.; Acosta-López, J. E.; Martínez-Banfi, M. L. ...
Journal of attention disorders,
12/2020, Letnik:
24, Številka:
14
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Objective: The aim of this study is to contrast the genetics of neuropsychological tasks in individuals from nuclear families clustering ADHD in a Caribbean community. Method: We recruited and ...clinically characterized 408 individuals using an extensive battery of neuropsychological tasks. The genetic variance underpinning these tasks was estimated by heritability. A predictive framework for ADHD diagnosis was derived using these tasks. Results: We found that individuals with ADHD differed from controls in tasks of mental control, visuospatial ability, visuoverbal memory, phonological and verbal fluency, verbal and semantic fluency, cognitive flexibility, and cognitive ability. Among them, tasks of mental control, visuoverbal memory, phonological fluency, semantic verbal fluency, and intelligence had a significant heritability. A predictive model of ADHD diagnosis using these endophenotypes yields remarkable classification rate, sensitivity, specificity, and precision values (above 80%). Conclusion: We have dissected new cognitive endophenotypes in ADHD that can be suitable to assess the neurobiological and genetic basis of ADHD.
A one-day survey was carried out in 88 out of 113 public hospitals in Lombardy to obtain prevalence rates of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) by hospital departments and to identify the pathogens ...more frequently involved. In total 18 667 patients were surveyed, representing 72% of the average daily total of occupied beds in public hospitals in Lombardy. The overall prevalence of HAI was 4.9%. The highest prevalence was observed in intensive care units and in spinal units. The prevalence of bloodstream infections was 0.6%; pneumonia 1.1%; urinary tract infections 1.6% and gastrointestinal infections 0.4%. In surgical patients the prevalence of surgical site infections was 2.7%. The most frequently isolated pathogen from all sites of infections was Escherichia coli (16.8%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus (15.0%), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (13.2%) and Candida spp. (8.7%). Methicillin-resistant S. aureus accounted for 23% of all isolated S. aureus. The results provide baseline data for rational priorities in allocation of resources, for further studies and for infection control activities.
Abstract Background and aim Patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) have a higher prevalence of subclinical atherosclerosis and higher risk of cardiovascular (CV) events compared to the ...general population. The relative contribution of CV-, immune- and disease-related risk factors to accelerated atherogenesis in SLE is unclear. Methods and results Fifty SLE patients with long-lasting disease (mean age 44 ± 10 years, 86% female) and 50 sex- and age-matched control subjects were studied. Common carotid artery intima-media thickness (CCA-IMT) was used as a surrogate marker of atherosclerosis. We evaluated traditional and immune- and disease-related factors, assessed multiple T-cell subsets by 10-parameter-eight-colour polychromatic flow cytometry and addressed the effect of pharmacological therapies on CCA-IMT. In SLE patients, among several cardiometabolic risk factors, only high-density lipoprotein levels (HDL) and their adenosine triphosphate-binding cassette transporter 1 (ABCA-1)-dependent cholesterol efflux capacity were markedly reduced ( p < 0.01), whereas the CCA-IMT was significantly increased ( p = 0.03) compared to controls. CCA-IMT correlated with systolic blood pressure, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and body mass index (BMI), but not with disease activity and duration. The activated CD4+ HLA-DR+ and CCR5+ T-cell subsets were expanded in SLE patients. Patients under hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) therapy showed lower CCA-IMT (0.62 ± 0.08 vs. 0.68 ± 0.10 mm; p = 0.03) and better risk-factor profile and presented reduced circulating pro-atherogenic effector memory T-cell subsets and a parallel increased percentage of naïve T-cell subsets. Conclusion HDL represents the main metabolic parameter altered in SLE patients. The increased CCA-IMT in SLE patients may represent the net result of a process in which ‘classic’ CV risk factors give a continuous contribution, together with immunological factors (CD4+ HLA-DR+ T cells) which, on the contrary, could contribute through flares of activity of various degrees over time. Patients under HCQ therapy present a modified metabolic profile, a reduced T-cell activation associated with decreased subclinical atherosclerosis.
Severe oral mucositis is a major cause of morbidity following allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT). Cryotherapy, that is, the application of ice chips on the mucosa of the oral ...cavity during the administration of antineoplastic agents, may reduce the incidence and severity of chemotherapy-related oral mucositis. In this multicenter randomized study, we addressed whether cryotherapy during MTX administration is effective in the prevention of severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing myeloablative AHSCT. One hundred and thirty patients undergoing myeloablative AHSCT and MTX-containing GVHD prophylaxis were enrolled and randomized to receive or not receive cryotherapy during MTX administration. The incidence of severe (grade 3-4) oral mucositis, the primary end point of the study, was comparable in patients receiving or not cryotherapy. Moreover, no difference was observed in the incidence of oral mucositis grade 2-4 and the duration of oral mucositis grade 3-4 or 2-4, or in the kinetics of mucositis over time. In univariate and multivariate analysis, severe oral mucositis correlated with TBI in the conditioning regimen and lack of folinic acid rescue following MTX administration. Thus, cryotherapy during MTX administration does not reduce severe oral mucositis in patients undergoing myeloablative allogeneic HSCT. Future studies will assess cryotherapy before allogeneic HSCT.
ABSTRACT
We announce the discovery of GPX-1 b, a transiting brown dwarf with a mass of 19.7 ± 1.6 MJup and a radius of 1.47 ± 0.10 RJup, the first substellar object discovered by the Galactic Plane ...eXoplanet (GPX) survey. The brown dwarf transits a moderately bright (V = 12.3 mag) fast-rotating F-type star with a projected rotational velocity $v\sin {\, i_*}=40\pm 10$ km s−1. We use the isochrone placement algorithm to characterize the host star, which has effective temperature 7000 ± 200 K, mass 1.68 ± 0.10 $\mathrm{\it M}_\odot$, radius 1.56 ± 0.10 $\mathrm{\it R}_\odot$, and approximate age $0.27_{-0.15}^{+0.09}$ Gyr. GPX-1 b has an orbital period of ∼1.75 d and a transit depth of 0.90 ± 0.03 per cent. We describe the GPX transit detection observations, subsequent photometric and speckle-interferometric follow-up observations, and SOPHIE spectroscopic measurements, which allowed us to establish the presence of a substellar object around the host star. GPX-1 was observed at 30-min integrations by TESS in Sector 18, but the data are affected by blending with a 3.4 mag brighter star 42 arcsec away. GPX-1 b is one of about two dozen transiting brown dwarfs known to date, with a mass close to the theoretical brown dwarf/gas giant planet mass transition boundary. Since GPX-1 is a moderately bright and fast-rotating star, it can be followed-up by the means of the Doppler tomography.
OBJECTIVE:To assess rates of prescriptions of protease inhibitors (PI) and determinants of not being prescribed PIs in a cohort of HIV-infected people eligible (according to published guidelines) for ...highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART).
DESIGN:Cross-sectional survey.
METHODS:A total of 684 patients with CD4 counts <500 cells/μl were enrolled from seven Italian HIV treatment centers from October 1997 to April 1998. A questionnaire on health-related quality of life (MOS-HIV) and patient ratings of the quality of care was administered. Sociodemographic variables, HIV disease-related factors, and prescribed antiretroviral therapy were also recorded.
RESULTS:61% of those enrolled were prescribed PI (median, 7.5 months). In addition, 75% of patients had previously received antiretroviral therapy. Fewer than 1% were prescribed nonnucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Using multivariable logistic regression considering those with CD4 counts <500 cells/μl, patients reporting the least information received (odds ratio OR, 1.78; 95% confidence interval CI, 1.23-2.58), injecting drug users (IDUs; OR, 1.73; 95% CI, 1.18-2.54), people with CD4 counts >200 cells/μl (OR, 1.76; 95% CI, 1.19-2.61), and patients with early stage disease (OR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.73-2.90) were less likely to have be prescribed PIs.
CONCLUSIONS:Of patients eligible for HAART, only 61% were prescribed PIs. People who wanted more information, IDUs, and patients in earlier disease stages are significantly less likely to be prescribed PIs. Access to HAART remains a critical issue in the management of HIV disease.
Abstract
PDS 110 is a young disc-hosting star in the Orion OB1A association. Two dimming events of similar depth and duration were seen in 2008 (WASP) and 2011 (KELT), consistent with an object in a ...closed periodic orbit. In this paper, we present data from a ground-based observing campaign designed to measure the star both photometrically and spectroscopically during the time of predicted eclipse in 2017 September. Despite high-quality photometry, the predicted eclipse did not occur, although coherent structure is present suggesting variable amounts of stellar flux or dust obscuration. We also searched for radial velocity (RV) oscillations caused by any hypothetical companion and can rule out close binaries to 0.1Ms. A search of Sonneberg plate archive data also enabled us to extend the photometric baseline of this star back more than 50 yr, and similarly does not re-detect any deep eclipses. Taken together, they suggest that the eclipses seen in WASP and KELT photometry were due to aperiodic events. It would seem that PDS 110 undergoes stochastic dimmings that are shallower and of shorter duration than those of UX Ori variables, but may have a similar mechanism.
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