Peoria Hospital

In order to increase the toughness of epoxy resin and make full use of biological resources, a tung oil-based hyperbranched polymer (TOHBP) was synthesized.

Background: There are evidence of intimate partner violence (IPV) and food insecurity (FI) as independent predictors of maternal depressive symptoms. However, there are a dearth of studies that have examined how both IPV and FI influence depressive symptoms. The objective of this study was to determine whether IPV, food insecurity, or the combined effect of experiencing both IPV and FI predicted later onset of maternal depressive symptoms. Method: Data over a nine year time span from Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing study were used for the current study (N=1421). IPV and FI were both measured at three and five years from the child’s birth. IPV was measured using seven items depicting physical and psychological abuse from spouse/partner. Household FI was measured using the 18-item Food Security Module developed by the United States Department of Agriculture. Four mutually exclusive dichotomous variables were created based on IPV and FI experiences. Mothers who experienced IPV at least at one time but did not experience FI were classified as “IPV only”. Mothers who experienced FI at least at one time but did not experience IPV were classified as “FI only”. Mothers who experienced both IPV and FI at least one time were classified as “both IPV and FI”. The final group “never IPV nor FI” did not experience IPV nor FI. Maternal depressive symptoms at year nine was determined using the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form. Covariate adjusted multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to understand the relation between IPV and FI on onset of depressive symptoms. Results: Twenty-seven percent of the study sample experienced both IPV and FI, 63% IPV only, 4% FI only, and 6% never. At year nine 18% of the mothers reported depressive symptoms. Majority of the sample were non-Hispanic black (52%) or Hispanic (23%), married/cohabiting (57%), and with a high school or higher education (76%). After controlling for age, race/ethnicity, education, marital status, financial strain and prior depressive symptoms, mothers who experienced both IPV and FI during 3-5 years after child’s birth had significantly higher odds of having depressive symptoms at 9 years after child’s birth (OR=2.10, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.27) compared to mothers experiencing neither. The odds of having depressive symptoms among mothers experiencing either IPV only (OR=1.33, 95% CI: 0.67, 2.66) or FI only (OR=2.34, 95% CI: 0.94, 5.86) was not significantly different from mothers experiencing neither. Conclusions: Maternal cumulative experiences of IPV and FI three to five years after child’s birth increased the likelihood of later onset of depressive symptoms. Currently IPV, food insecurity and depression are typically addressed in isolation. Using a trauma-informed approach, combining IPV counselling with public/private food assistance programs might be effective in preventing maternal depressive symptoms later in life.

The validity of the eosinophilic oesophagitis (EoE) histologic scoring system (EoEHSS) has been demonstrated, but only preliminary reliability data exist. Formally assess the reliability of the EoEHSS and additional histologic features. Four expert gastrointestinal pathologists independently reviewed slides from adult patients with EoE (N = 45) twice, in random order, using standardised training materials and scoring conventions for the EoEHSS and additional histologic features agreed upon during a modified Delphi process. Intra- and inter-rater reliability for scoring the EoEHSS, a visual analogue scale (VAS) of overall histopathologic disease severity, and additional histologic features were assessed using intra-class correlation coefficients (ICCs). Almost perfect intra-rater reliability was observed for the composite EoEHSS scores and the VAS. Inter-rater reliability was also almost perfect for the composite EoEHSS scores and substantial for the VAS. Of the EoEHSS items, eosinophilic inflammation was associated with the highest ICC estimates and consistent with almost perfect intra- and inter-rater reliability. With the exception of dyskeratotic epithelial cells and surface epithelial alteration, ICC estimates for the remaining EoEHSS items were above the benchmarks for substantial intra-rater, and moderate inter-rater reliability. Estimation of peak eosinophil count and number of lamina propria eosinophils were associated with the highest ICC estimates among the exploratory items. The composite EoEHSS and most component items are associated with substantial reliability when assessed by central pathologists. Future studies should assess responsiveness of the score to change after a therapeutic intervention to facilitate its use in clinical trials.

Reagents derived from hydroxylamines such as 2,4-dinitrophenylhydroxylamine (DPH), O-(diphenylphosphinyl)hydroxylamine (DPPH), hydroxylamine-O-sulfonic acid (HOSA) and other related reagents in which oxygen is substituted with good leaving groups recently showed remarkable potential as electrophilic aminating agents and as a source of the amino group. They facilitate stereo- and regioselective C-N, N-N, O-N, and S-N bond-formation reactions and intra-molecular cyclizations without the requirement of expensive metal catalysts. In this review we have discussed the important transformations achieved with these reagents.

Glioblastoma (GBM) remains one of the most lethal and difficult-to-treat cancers of the central nervous system. The poor prognosis in GBM patients is due in part to its resistance to available treatments, which calls for identifying novel molecular therapeutic targets. In this study, we identified a mediator of Notch signaling, HEY1, whose methylation status contributes to the pathogenesis of GBM. Datamining studies, immunohistochemistry and immunoblot analysis showed that HEY1 is highly expressed in GBM patient specimens. Since methylation status of HEY1 may control its expression, we conducted bisulphite sequencing on patient samples and found that the HEY1 promoter region was hypermethylated in normal brain when compared to GBM specimens. Treatment on 4910 and 5310 xenograft cell lines with sodium butyrate (NaB) significantly decreased HEY1 expression with a concomitant increase in DNMT1 expression, confirming that promoter methylation may regulate HEY1 expression in GBM. NaB treatment also induced apoptosis of GBM cells as measured by flow cytometric analysis. Further, silencing of HEY1 reduced invasion, migration and proliferation in 4910 and 5310 cells. Furthermore, immunoblot and q-PCR analysis showed the existence of a potential positive regulatory loop between HEY1 and p53. Additionally, transcription factor interaction array with HEY1 recombinant protein predicted a correlation with p53 and provided various bonafide targets of HEY1. Collectively, these studies suggest HEY1 may be an important predictive marker for GBM and potential target for future GBM therapy.

Lymphedema of the arms can be a serious consequence of local and regional therapy in women with breast cancer. Coumarin has been reported to be effective for the treatment of women with lymphedema; we undertook a study in which we attempted to replicate those findings. We studied 140 women with chronic lymphedema of the ipsilateral arm after treatment for breast cancer. The women received 200 mg of oral coumarin or placebo twice daily for six months and then the other treatment for the following six months. The end points of the study consisted of the volume of the arm (calculated from measurements of hand and arm circumference) and the answers on a questionnaire completed by the patient about symptoms potentially related to lymphedema. The volumes of the arms at 6 and 12 months, were virtually identical, regardless of whether coumarin or placebo was given first. After six months, the average volume of the affected arm increased by 21 ml during placebo treatment and 58 ml during coumarin treatment (P=0.80). In addition, answers to patient-completed questionnaires were similar in the two treatment groups. After six months only 15 percent of the women in the coumarin group and 10 percent of those in the placebo group reported that the study medication had helped a moderate or large amount (P=0.19). Coumarin was well tolerated, except that it resulted in serologic evidence of liver toxicity in 6 percent of the women. Coumarin is not effective therapy for women who have lymphedema of the arm after treatment for breast cancer.