Genome Sequences of Three Novel Isolates of Human Parainfluenza Virus 2 Associated with Acute Respiratory Infection.

Using target capture of viral nucleic acid and next-generation sequencing, we generated the genome sequences of three novel human parainfluenza virus 2 isolates. Isolates ACRI_0185 (GenBank accession number MF077311), ACRI_0230 (MF077312), and ACRI_0248 (MF077313) were collected in October 2016, February 2017, and March 2017, respectively, from pediatric patients with acute respiratory infection in Arkansas.

Obesity impedes functional improvement in youth with chronic pain: An initial investigation.

BACKGROUND: Youth with chronic pain are at higher risk for obesity than the general population. In youth with chronic pain, obesity exacerbates pain-specific activity limitations, and in adults with chronic pain, obesity perpetuates a cycle of disability. The current study examined whether weight status predicts functional disability outcomes over time in youth with chronic pain. METHODS: Data were obtained from a retrospective chart review of patients who consented to participate in a longitudinal outcomes study. The Child Activity Limitations Questionnaire was used to assess functional disability at intake, 1-, and 3-month follow-up. Height and weight were measured at intake. A linear mixed model was used to test whether weight status and time predicted functional disability. Trend analysis with polynomial contrasts was used to test whether improvements in functional disability showed a linear trend over time. RESULTS: The linear mixed model analysis showed a main effect of weight, suggesting that youth with higher BMI demonstrated less improvement in functional disability over time. The trend analysis suggested that improvements in functional disability were consistent with a linear trend for both healthy weight and overweight participants, but not for obese participants. CONCLUSION: These findings demonstrate that obesity impedes improvement in functioning for youth with chronic pain. Despite multidisciplinary pain treatment, youth with comorbid chronic pain and obesity demonstrate greater functional disability at follow-up and little improvement over time. These results support the need for interventions specifically tailored to the unique challenges faced by youth with comorbid chronic pain and obesity. SIGNIFICANCE: This study shows that obesity impedes improvement in functioning for youth with chronic pain. On the basis of these findings, interventions should be tailored to the unique challenges of this population.

Complete Genome Sequence of a Novel WU Polyomavirus Isolate from Arkansas, USA, Associated with Acute Respiratory Infection.

We report here the complete genome sequence of a WU polyomavirus (WUPyV) isolate, also known as human polyomavirus 4, collected in 2016 from a patient in Arkansas with an acute respiratory infection. Isolate hPyV4/USA/AR001/2016 has a double-stranded DNA genome of 5,229 bp in length.

Complete Genome Sequences of Two Novel Isolates of Human Parainfluenza Virus 1 Associated with Acute Respiratory Infection.

Using target capture of viral nucleic acid and next-generation sequencing, we generated the complete genomes of two novel human parainfluenza virus 1 isolates. Isolates AR001 (accession no. KX570602) and NM001 (accession no. KX639498) were collected 3 months apart from pediatric patients with acute respiratory infection from Arkansas and New Mexico, respectively.

The effects of growth hormone treatment on health-related quality of life in children.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The effects of growth hormone deficiency (GHD) on linear growth in children are well documented, but there is less convincing evidence regarding the impact on health-related quality of life (QOL). We examined QOL in children aged 8-16 years with acquired GHD following treatment for malignancy (AGHD) or idiopathic GHD (IGHD) on commencing growth hormone treatment (GHT) over 6 months. We adopted a longitudinal design involving consecutive patients and their families attending clinic over an 18-month period. Mothers and children were invited to complete questionnaires before GHT (T1) and 6 months later (T2). METHODS: Mothers of 22 children (AGHD n = 14; IGHD n = 8) completed standardized measures of child QOL and behaviour. Children completed parallel measures of QOL, short-term memory tasks and fitness either in clinic or at the family home. RESULTS: For children with AGHD, QOL was significantly below population norms at T1 and improved over time. For children diagnosed with IGHD, QOL at T1 was below, but comparable with population norms. QOL improved over time, though not significantly. CONCLUSION: GHT is potentially valuable for improving QOL in children, especially in cases of AGHD. We conclude that benefits of GHT for QOL need to be evaluated independent of different diagnostic groups.

Growth hormone treatment and quality of life among survivors of childhood cancer.

BACKGROUND: We report the health-related quality of life (QOL) of survivors of childhood cancer (acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, ALL, or central nervous system, CNS, tumour), and whether or not they had growth hormone deficiency (GHD) requiring growth hormone treatment (GHT). METHOD: We assessed 77 survivors of childhood ALL (n = 51) or CNS tumours (n = 26), aged between 8-18 years, and free from disease for > or = 4 years. Survivors and their mothers independently rated survivors' QOL, and mothers completed semi-structured interviews to determine their views of the benefits and disadvantages of GHT. RESULTS: Survivors, especially those treated for a CNS tumour, reported poorer QOL compared with UK population norms. Although survivors of ALL reported better QOL than survivors of CNS tumours, there were no differences depending on whether or not they were prescribed GHT. However, mothers reported that those prescribed GHT had worse QOL than those not. All but 2 survivors were responsible for their own injections. A minority of mothers were disappointed with the child's rate of growth, and reported that children experienced pain with injections. CONCLUSION: We conclude that QOL in survivors of childhood cancer is compromised compared with the normal population, especially following CNS tumours. Longitudinal studies are vital to determine whether GHT can contribute to improved QOL for cancer survivors, especially those who experience more intensive initial therapy regimes.

Size-related shifts in the habitat associations of young-of-the-year winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus): field observations and laboratory experiments with sediments and prey.

Field surveys and laboratory studies were used to determine the role of substrata in habitat selection by young-of-the year winter flounder. A synoptic field survey of winter flounder and sediments in the Navesink River-Sandy Hook Bay estuarine system in New Jersey demonstrated that winter flounder distribution was related to sediment grain size. Analysis using a generalized additive model indicated that the probability of capturing 10-49 mm SL winter flounder was high on sediments with a mean grain diameter of /=40 mm SL) preferred coarse-grained sediments. Burying ability increased with size and all flounders avoided sediments that prevented burial. Subsequent laboratory experiments revealed that the presence of live prey (Mya arenaria) can over-ride sediment choice by winter flounder (50-68 mm SL) indicating the complexity of interrelated factors in habitat choice.

Feeding behavior of newly settled winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) on calanoid copepods.

Field and laboratory investigations were conducted to examine feeding by newly settled winter flounder (Pseudopleuronectes americanus) on two co-occurring calanoid copepods, Eurytemora affinis and Acartia hudsonica. During the spring, these prey are present when winter flounder initiate their demersal lifestyle in estuaries of the northeastern United States. Epibenthic zooplankton were collected concurrently with winter flounder in the Navesink River estuary, NJ, in May 1998 and 1999. Although both calanoid species were in the estuary during the 2-year survey, E. affinis was consumed nearly to the exclusion of A. hudsonica by newly settled winter flounder. Annually, E. affinis and A. hudsonica had similar size distributions in field collections, indicating that species choice was not size selective. However, when preying on E. affinis, winter flounder preferred the larger sized organisms. In single species laboratory experiments, E. affinis and A. hudsonica were consumed equally by newly settled winter flounder (19-23 mm TL), but there were more strikes made toward E. affinis. Despite the lower catch efficiency, E. affinis was selected over A. hudsonica when the prey species were offered together in equal numbers. The selection for E. affinis over A. hudsonica by newly settled winter flounder may be the result of behavioral and/or morphological differences in the prey species.

Aeromedical transportation via commercial airlines.

A report on 72 patients requiring medical escorts on long international flights by commercial airlines is presented. From experience gained, advice is given on facilitating medical attention during such journeys. Adequate preflight planning is the most important aspect.