A Thermoelectric Polymer Field-Effect Transistor via Iodine-Doped P3HT.

Doping can alter certain electronics, including the thermoelectric properties of an organic semiconductor. These alterations may enable viable tunable devices that could be useful in temperature sensing for autonomous controls. Here, we demonstrate a dual-modulation organic field-effect transistor (OFET) where temperature can modulate the current-voltage characteristics of the OFET and gate voltage can modulate the thermoelectric properties of the active layer in the same device. Specifically, Poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5-diyl) (P3HT) was utilized as the host p-type semiconducting polymer, and iodine was utilized as the thermoelectric minority dopant. The finished devices were characterized with a semiconductor analyzer system with temperature controlled using two thermoelectric cooling plates. The FETs with iodine doping levels in the range of 0.25% to 0.5% mole ratio with respect to the P3HT exhibit the greatest on/off ratios. This study also observed that P3HT thin film samples with an intermediate iodine doping concentration of 0.25% mole ratio exhibit an optimal thermoelectric power factor (PF).

Loneliness status transitions and risk of cardiovascular disease among middle-aged and older adults.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Loneliness is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), and the levels at which individuals experience it can transition over time. However, the impact of increased loneliness or decreased loneliness on later CVD risk remains unexplored. We aimed to identify the age-specific association between loneliness status transitions and subsequent CVD incidences in middle-aged and older adults. METHODS AND RESULTS: Data was extracted from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) on 8463 adults to evaluate how loneliness status transitions across two data collection points were associated with the subsequent CVD incidence at a five-year follow-up. Loneliness status transitions were divided into four categories: stable low loneliness, decreased loneliness, increased loneliness, and stable high loneliness. Data were analyzed using a Cox-proportional hazards model with age subgroups, accounting for covariates at baseline. During follow-up, the incidence rate of CVD per 1000 person-years was lower for the stable low loneliness group and decreased loneliness group compared to the increased loneliness and stable high loneliness group. Increased loneliness is associated with the highest risk of overall CVD and heart disease (HR 2.44, P < 0.001; HR 2.34, P < 0.001), while stable high loneliness is associated with the highest risk of stroke among the four loneliness categories (HR 4.29, P < 0.05). The age-specific analyses revealed no statistically significant interaction in terms of loneliness status transitions and age group. CONCLUSION: Increased loneliness and stable high loneliness are associated with higher CVD risk. In clinical practice, it is important to monitor patients' loneliness status transitions to reduce CVD incidences.

Hemodilution in high-risk cardiac surgery: Laboratory values, physiological parameters, and outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is a blood conservation strategy in cardiac surgery, predominantly used in coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) and/or valve procedures. Although higher complexity cardiac procedures may benefit from ANH, concerns for hemodynamic instability, and organ injury during hemodilution hinder its wider acceptance. Laboratory and physiological parameters during hemodilution in complex cardiac surgeries have not been described. STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS: This observational cohort (2019-2021) study included 169 patients who underwent thoracic aortic repair, multiple valve procedure, concomitant CABG with the aforementioned procedure, and/or redo sternotomies. Patients who received allogeneic blood were excluded. Statistical comparisons were performed between ANH (N = 66) and non-ANH controls (N = 103). ANH consisted of removal of blood at the beginning of surgery and its return after cardiopulmonary bypass. RESULTS: Intraoperatively, the ANH group received more albumin (p = .04) and vasopressor medications (p = .01), while urine output was no different between ANH and controls. Bilateral cerebral oximetry (rSO2 ) values were similar before and after hemodilution. During bypass, rSO2 were discretely lower in the ANH versus control group (right rSO2 p = .03, left rSO2 p = .05). No differences in lactic acid values were detected across the procedural continuum. Postoperatively, no differences in extubation times, intensive care unit length of stay, kidney injury, stroke, or infection were demonstrated. DISCUSSION: This study suggests hemodilution to be a safe and comparable blood conservation technique, even without accounting for potential benefits of reduced allogenic blood administration. The study may contribute to better understanding and wider acceptance of ANH protocols in high-risk cardiac surgeries.

The HEART Camp Exercise Intervention Improves Exercise Adherence, Physical Function, and Patient-Reported Outcomes in Adults With Preserved Ejection Fraction Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Despite exercise being one of few strategies to improve outcomes for individuals with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), exercise clinical trials in HFpEF are plagued by poor interventional adherence. Over the last 2 decades, our research team has developed, tested, and refined Heart failure Exercise And Resistance Training (HEART) Camp, a multicomponent behavioral intervention to promote adherence to exercise in HF. We evaluated the effects of this intervention designed to promote adherence to exercise in HF focusing on subgroups of participants with HFpEF and heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF). METHODS AND RESULTS: This randomized controlled trial included 204 adults with stable, chronic HF. Of those enrolled, 59 had HFpEF and 145 had HFrEF. We tested adherence to exercise (defined as ≥120 minutes of moderate-intensity [40%-80% of heart rate reserve] exercise per week validated with a heart rate monitor) at 6, 12, and 18 months. We also tested intervention effects on symptoms (Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System-29 and dyspnea-fatigue index), HF-related health status (Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire), and physical function (6-minute walk test). Participants with HFpEF (n = 59) were a mean of 64.6 ± 9.3 years old, 54% male, and 46% non-White with a mean ejection fraction of 55 ± 6%. Participants with HFpEF in the HEART Camp intervention group had significantly greater adherence compared with enhanced usual care at both 12 (43% vs 14%, phi = 0.32, medium effect) and 18 months (56% vs 0%, phi = 0.67, large effect). HEART Camp significantly improved walking distance on the 6-minute walk test (η2 = 0.13, large effect) and the Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaire overall (η2 = 0.09, medium effect), clinical summary (η2 = 0.16, large effect), and total symptom (η2 = 0.14, large effect) scores. In the HFrEF subgroup, only patient-reported anxiety improved significantly in the intervention group. CONCLUSIONS: A multicomponent, behavioral intervention is associated with improvements in long-term adherence to exercise, physical function, and patient-reported outcomes in adults with HFpEF and anxiety in HFrEF. Our results provide a strong rationale for a large HFpEF clinical trial to validate these findings and examine interventional mechanisms and delivery modes that may further promote adherence and improve clinical outcomes in this population. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/. Unique identifier: NCT01658670.

Effects of acute normovolemic hemodilution on post-cardiopulmonary bypass coagulation tests and allogeneic blood transfusion in thoracic aortic repair surgery: An observational cohort study.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Perioperative blood transfusion is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is a blood conservation strategy associated with variable success, and rarely studied in more complex cardiac procedures. The study aim was to evaluate whether ANH improves coagulopathy and reduces blood transfusions in thoracic aortic surgeries. METHODS: Single-center observational cohort study comparing ANH and standard institutional practice in patients who underwent thoracic aortic repair with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) from 2019 to 2021. RESULTS: A total of 89 patients underwent ANH and 116 standard practice. There were no significant differences between the groups in terms of demographic or major perioperative characteristics. In the ANH group coagulation tests before and after transfusion of autologous blood showed decreased INR and increased platelets, fibrinogen, all with p < 0.0005. Coagulation results in the ANH and control groups were not statistically different. The average number of transfused allogeneic products per patient was lower in the ANH versus control group: FFP 1.1 ± 1.6 versus 1.9 ± 2.3 (p = 0.003), platelets 0.6 ± 0.8 versus 1.2 ± 1.3 (p = 0.0008), and cryoprecipitate 0.3 ± 0.7 versus 0.7 ± 1.1 (p = 0.008). Reduction in red blood cell transfusion was not statistically significant. The percentage of patients who received any transfusion was 53.9% in ANH and 59.5% in the control group (p = 0.42). There was no significant difference in major adverse outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: ANH is a safe blood conservation strategy for surgical repairs of the thoracic aorta. Laboratory data suggests ANH can improve some coagulation values after separation from CPB, and significantly reduce the number of transfused FFP, platelets and cryoprecipitate.

Negative Attitudes, Self-efficacy, and Relapse Management Mediate Long-Term Adherence to Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Exercise is safe and provides considerable benefits for patients with heart failure (HF) including improved function, quality of life, and symptoms. However, patients with HF have difficulty initiating and adhering to an exercise regimen. To improve adherence, our team developed Heart Failure Exercise and Resistance Training (HEART) Camp, a multicomponent, theory-driven intervention that was efficacious in a randomized controlled trial of long-term adherence to exercise in patients with HF. Identifying active components of efficacious interventions is a priority. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to use mediation analysis to determine which interventional components accounted for long-term adherence to exercise in patients with HF. METHODS: This study included 204 patients with HF enrolled in a randomized controlled trial. Instruments measuring interventional components were completed at baseline, 6, 12, and 18 months. Hierarchical linear models generated slope estimates to be used as predictors in logistic regression models. Significant variables were tested for indirect effects using path analyses with 1,000 bootstrapped estimates. RESULTS: Significant mediation effects were observed for the interventional components of negative attitudes (ß NA = 0.368, s.e. = 0.062, p < .001), self-efficacy (ß SE = 0.190, s.e. = 0.047, p < .001), and relapse management (ß RM = 0.243, s.e. = 0.076, p = .001). CONCLUSIONS: These findings highlight improving attitudes, self-efficacy, and managing relapse as key interventional components to improve long-term adherence to exercise in patients with HF. Future interventions targeting adherence to exercise in patients with HF and other chronic illnesses should consider the incorporation of these active components.

Predicting maximal oxygen uptake from the 6 min walk test in patients with heart failure.

AIMS: A cardiopulmonary exercise (CPX) test is considered the gold standard in evaluating maximal oxygen uptake. This study aimed to evaluate the predictive validity of equations provided by Burr et al., Ross et al., Adedoyin et al., and Cahalin et al. in predicting peak VO2 from 6 min walk test (6MWT) distance in patients with heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: New York Heart Association Class I-III HF patients performed a maximal effort CPX test and two 6MWTs. Correlations between CPX VO2 peak and the predicted VO2 peak , coefficient of determination (R2 ), and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) scores were calculated. P-values were set at 0.05. A total of 106 participants aged 62.5 ± 11.5 years completed the tests. The mean VO2 peak from CPX testing was 16.4 ± 3.9 mL/kg/min, and the mean 6MWT distance was 419.2 ± 93.0 m. The predicted mean VO2 peak (mL/kg/min) by Burr et al., Ross et al., Adedoyin et al., and Cahalin et al. was 22.8 ± 8.8, 14.6 ± 2.1, 8.30 ± 1.4, and 16.6 ± 2.8. A significant correlation was observed between the CPX test VO2 peak and predicted values. The mean difference (0.1 mL/kg/min), R2 (0.97), and MAPE (0.14) values suggest that the Cahalin et al. equation provided the best predictive validity. CONCLUSIONS: The equation provided by Cahalin et al. is simple and has a strong predictive validity, and researchers may use the equation to predict mean VO2 peak in patients with HF. Based on our observation, equations to predict individual maximal oxygen uptake should be used cautiously.

The influence of the HEART Camp intervention on physical function, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety and fatigue in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Regular exercise training has beneficial effects on quality of life, physical function, depression and anxiety in individuals with heart failure. Unfortunately, individuals with heart failure have low levels of adherence to exercise. Thus, studies are needed to assess intervention strategies which may enhance clinical outcomes. AIM: The aim of this study was to identify the components of the HEART Camp intervention, which contributed to optimizing clinical outcomes. METHODS: The Heart Failure Exercise and Resistance Training Camp (HEART Camp) was a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the effect of a multicomponent intervention on adherence to exercise (6, 12 and 18 months) compared to an enhanced usual care group. This study assessed various components of the intervention on the secondary outcomes of physical function, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety, and fatigue. RESULTS: Individuals participating (n=204) in this study were 55.4% men and the average age was 60.4 (11.5) years. A combination of individualized and group-based strategies demonstrated clinical improvements, HEART Camp versus enhanced usual care groups, in physical function, positive trends in health-related quality of life and positive changes in the minimally important differences for depression, anxiety, and fatigue. CONCLUSIONS: Individualized coaching by an exercise professional and group-based educational sessions were identified as important components of patient management contributing to improvements in the secondary outcomes of physical function, health-related quality of life, depression, anxiety and fatigue.

A longitudinal assessment of occupational stress in Emergency Department Nursing Staff.

AIMS: To examine perceptions of occupational stress in Emergency Department (ED) nurses and measure the impact of interventions to address them. BACKGROUND: Cross-sectional studies internationally have established that Emergency Department (ED) nursing staff experience high levels of occupational stress. Few however have examined changes in perceptions of stress over time or the impact of interventions to address them. EVALUATION: A structured questionnaire completed by volunteer nursing staff in one United Kingdom ED assessing perceptions of occupational stress and job satisfaction. Questionnaire rounds were administered in 2014 (T1), 2015 (T2) and 2017 (T3) at 18-month intervals. Statistical analyses were conducted using multivariate regression, t-tests and Mann-Whitney U tests. KEY ISSUE: Statistically significant improvements in effort-reward balance, relational justice and job satisfaction were seen between T2 and T3 for nurses completing questionnaires at all three time points, but not for other stressors. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that organisational interventions, supported by robust research data and consistent departmental leadership can positively influence perceptions of organisational stress in ED nurses. Our approach is generic, internationally applicable and can be adopted in all EDs. IMPLICATIONS OF NURSING MANAGEMENT: These occupational stressors are common to all EDs. Nurse managers should know their distribution amongst their staff. Such data can inform interventions to achieve maximal benefits for staff wellbeing and may be of value when targeting resources in times of financial pressure.

MOVE-HF: an internet-based pilot study to improve adherence to exercise in patients with heart failure.

AIM: The use of the internet and newer activity monitors such as the Fitbit Charge HR to improve exercise adherence is limited. The primary aim of the Move on Virtual Engagement (MOVE-HF) was to investigate the effects of group social support by internet-based synchronized face-to-face video and objective physical activity feedback on adherence to recommended exercise guidelines. METHODS: Thirty stable heart failure patients (New York Heart Association class I-III), aged 64.7±11.5 years, were randomly assigned to an experimental or comparison group. Participants were provided a handout on self-care in heart failure, an exercise routine, a Fitbit Charge HR and were asked to wear the Fitbit Charge HR daily, and record their exercise sessions using both the Fitbit Charge HR and exercise diaries. In addition, participants in the experimental group connected to Vidyo software, once a week, for 8 weeks, for a 45-minute face-to-face online group discussion/education session. RESULTS: Overall Vidyo session attendance was 68%, with 73% of participants attending five or more sessions. Adherence to exercise was 58.8% in the experimental group and 57.3% in the comparison group. The experimental group perceived receiving social support through the internet-based synchronized face-to-face video meetings but due to a small sample size and lack of adequate power, no significant impact on exercise adherence was observed. Participants commented that feedback regarding physical activity from the Fitbit Charge HR was helpful and motivational. CONCLUSION: Delivering social support by internet-based synchronized face-to-face video is feasible with heart failure patients. However, more investigations are needed to understand its impact on exercise adherence.

A genetic linkage map for the salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis): evidence for high male:female and inter-familial recombination rate differences.

A salmon louse (Lepeophtheirus salmonis salmonis) genetic linkage map was constructed to serve as a genomic resource for future investigations into the biology of this important marine parasitic copepod species, and to provide insights into the inheritance patterns of genetic markers in this species. SNP genotyping of 8 families confirmed the presence of 15 linkage groups based upon the assignment of 93,773 markers. Progeny sample size weight adjusted map sizes in males (with the exception of SL12 and SL15) ranged in size from 96.50 cM (SL11) to 134.61 cM (SL06), and total combined map steps or bins ranged from 143 (SL09) to 203 (SL13). The SL12 male map was the smallest linkage group with a weight-averaged size of 3.05 cM with 6 recombination bins. Male:female specific recombination rate differences are 10.49:1 and represent one of the largest reported sex-specific differences for any animal species. Recombination ratio differences (M:F) ranged from 1.0 (SL12) to 29:1 (SL15). The number of markers exhibiting normal Mendelian segregation within the sex linkage group SL15 was extremely low (N = 80) in comparison to other linkage groups genotyped [range: 1459 (SL12)-10206 markers (SL05)]. Re-evaluation of Mendelian inheritance patterns of markers unassigned to any mapping parent according to hemizygous segregation patterns (models presented) identified matches for many of these markers to hemizygous patterns. The greatest proportion of these markers assigned to SL15 (N increased to 574). Inclusion of the hemizygous markers revised SL15 sex-specific recombination rate differences to 28:1. Recombination hot- and coldspots were identified across all linkage groups with all linkage groups possessing multiple peaks. Nine of 13 linkage groups evaluated possessed adjacent domains with hot-coldspot transitional zones. The most common pattern was for one end of the linkage to show elevated recombination in addition to internal regions. For SL01 and SL06, however, a terminal region with high recombination was not evident while a central domain possessing extremely high-recombination levels was present. High levels of recombination were weakly coupled to higher levels of SNP variation within domains, but this association was very strong for the central domains of SL01 and SL06. From the pooled paternal half-sib lots (several virgin females placed with 1 male), only 1 or two surviving family lots were obtained. Surviving families possessed parents where both the male and female possessed either inherently low or high recombination rates. This study provides insight into the organization of the sea louse genome, and describes large differences in recombination rate that exist among individuals of the same sex, and between the sexes. These differences in recombination rate may be coupled to the capabilities of this species to adapt to environmental and pharmaceutical treatments, given that family survivorship appears to be enhanced when parents have similar recombination levels.

Effects of the HEART Camp Trial on Adherence to Exercise in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Few exercise training studies in patients with heart failure (HF) report adherence to guideline-recommended 150 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise per week, and no studies have focused on a primary outcome of adherence. METHODS AND RESULTS: This randomized controlled trial evaluated the effect of a multicomponent intervention, Heart Failure Exercise and Resistance Training (HEART) Camp, on adherence to exercise (after 6, 12, and 18 months) compared with an enhanced usual care (EUC) group. Patients (n = 204) were 55.4% male, overall average age was 60.4 years, and 47.5% were nonwhite. The HEART Camp group had significantly greater adherence at 12 (42%) and 18 (35%) months compared with the EUC group (28% and 19%, respectively). No significant difference (P > .05) was found at 6 months. The treatment effect did not differ based on patient's age, race, gender, marital status, type of HF (preserved or reduced ejection fraction) or New York Heart Association functional class. Left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) significantly moderated the treatment effect, with greater adherence at higher LVEF. CONCLUSIONS: The multicomponent HEART Camp intervention showed efficacy with significant effects at 12 months and 18 months. Adherence levels remained modest, indicating a need for additional research to address methods and strategies to promote adherence to exercise in patients with HF.

A 200K SNP chip reveals a novel Pacific salmon louse genotype linked to differential efficacy of emamectin benzoate.

Antiparasitic drugs such as emamectin benzoate (EMB) are relied upon to reduce the parasite load, particularly of the sea louse Lepeophtheirus salmonis, on farmed salmon. The decline in EMB treatment efficacy for this purpose is an important issue for salmon producers around the world, and particularly for those in the Atlantic Ocean where widespread EMB tolerance in sea lice is recognized as a significant problem. Salmon farms in the Northeast Pacific Ocean have not historically experienced the same issues with treatment efficacy, possibly due to the relatively large population of endemic salmonid hosts that serve to both redistribute surviving lice and dilute populations potentially under selection by introducing naïve lice to farms. Frequent migration of lice among farmed and wild hosts should limit the effect of farm-specific selection pressures on changes to the overall allele frequencies of sea lice in the Pacific Ocean. A previous study using microsatellites examined L. salmonis oncorhynchi from 10 Pacific locations from wild and farmed hosts and found no population structure. Recently however, a farm population of sea lice was detected where EMB bioassay exposure tolerance was abnormally elevated. In response, we have developed a Pacific louse draft genome that complements the previously-released Atlantic louse sequence. These genomes were combined with whole-genome re-sequencing data to design a highly sensitive 201,279 marker SNP array applicable for both subspecies (90,827 validated Pacific loci; 153,569 validated Atlantic loci). Notably, kmer spectrum analysis of the re-sequenced samples indicated that Pacific lice exhibit a large within-individual heterozygosity rate (average of 1 in every 72 bases) that is markedly higher than that of Atlantic individuals (1 in every 173 bases). The SNP chip was used to produce a high-density map for Atlantic sea louse linkage group 5 that was previously shown to be associated with EMB tolerance in Atlantic lice. Additionally, 478 Pacific louse samples from farmed and wild hosts obtained between 2005 and 2014 were also genotyped on the array. Clustering analysis allowed us to detect the apparent emergence of an otherwise rare genotype at a high frequency among the lice collected from two farms in 2013 that had reported elevated EMB tolerance. This genotype was not observed in louse samples collected from the same farm in 2010, nor in any lice sampled from other locations prior to 2013. However, this genotype was detected at low frequencies in louse samples from farms in two locations reporting elevated EMB tolerance in 2014. These results suggest that a rare genotype present in Pacific lice may be locally expanded in farms after EMB treatment. Supporting this hypothesis, 437 SNPs associated with this genotype were found to be in a region of linkage group 5 that overlaps the region associated with EMB resistance in Atlantic lice. Finally, five of the top diagnostic SNPs within this region were used to screen lice that had been subjected to an EMB survival assay, revealing a significant association between these SNPs and EMB treatment outcome. To our knowledge this work is the first report to identify a genetic link to altered EMB efficacy in L. salmonis in the Pacific Ocean.

Accelerometer-Measured Daily Activity Levels and Related Factors in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND: Few studies report objective accelerometer-measured daily physical activity levels in patients with heart failure (HF). OBJECTIVE: We examined baseline accelerometer-measured physical activity from the Heart Failure Exercise and Resistance Training Camp trial, a federally funded (R01-HL112979) 18-month intervention study to promote adherence to exercise in patients with HF. Factors associated with physical activity levels were also explored. METHODS: Patients with diagnosed HF (stage C chronic HF confirmed by echocardiography and clinical evaluation) were recruited from 2 urban medical centers. Physical activity energy expenditure and the number of minutes of moderate or vigorous physical activity (MVPA) were obtained from 7 full days of measurement with the accelerometer (Actigraph Model GT3X, Pensacola, Florida) for 182 subjects who met minimum valid wear time parameters. Additional measures of health-related factors were included to explore the association with physical activity levels. RESULTS: Subjects had 10.2 ± 10.5 minutes of MVPA per day. Total physical activity energy expenditure was 304 ± 173 kcal on average per day. There were 23 individuals (12.6%) who met the recommended goal of 150 minutes of MVPA per week. Men, whites, New York Heart Association class II, and subjects with better physical function had significantly higher levels of activity. CONCLUSIONS: Consistent with previous research, patients with HF are not meeting recommended guidelines for 150 minutes of MVPA per week.

Feasibility of using the Fitbit® Charge HR in validating self-reported exercise diaries in a community setting in patients with heart failure.

BACKGROUND: Use of wrist-worn activity monitors has increased over the past few years; however, the use of the Fitbit® Charge HR (FCHR) in a community setting in patients with heart failure has not been tested. PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to assess the feasibility, practicality and acceptability of utilizing the FCHR to validate self-reported exercise diaries and monitor exercise in community dwelling patients with heart failure. METHODS: Thirty heart failure patients (12 females and 18 males) aged 64.7 ± 11.5 years were provided with a FCHR. Participants were provided with an exercise routine and for eight weeks, recorded their exercise sessions in self-reported exercise diaries and used the FCHR to record those exercise sessions. RESULTS: Exercise data from the self-reported exercise diaries were validated with data from the FCHR. Participants' perception and acceptance of using the FCHR was positive. Validation of exercise and physical activity interventions using the FCHR appears feasible and acceptable in patients with heart failure. CONCLUSION: Wrist-worn activity monitors can be useful for objective measurement of exercise adherence and monitoring of physical activity in patients with heart failure in a community setting.

Diabetes and the hospitalized patient : A cluster analytic framework for characterizing the role of sex, race and comorbidity from 2006 to 2011.

In the US, one in four adults has two or more chronic conditions; this population accounts for two thirds of healthcare spending. Comorbidity, the presence of multiple simultaneous health conditions in an individual, is increasing in prevalence and has been shown to impact patient outcomes negatively. Comorbidities associated with diabetes are correlated with increased incidence of preventable hospitalizations, longer lengths of stay (LOS), and higher costs. This study focuses on sex and race disparities in outcomes for hospitalized adult patients with and without diabetes. The objective is to characterize the impact of comorbidity burden, measured as the Charlson Weighted Index of Comorbidities (WIC), on outcomes including LOS, total charges, and disposition (specifically, probability of routine discharge home). Data from the National Inpatient Sample (2006-2011) were used to build a cluster-analytic framework which integrates cluster analysis with multivariate and logistic regression methods, for several goals: (i) to evaluate impact of these covariates on outcomes; (ii) to identify the most important comorbidities in the hospitalized population; and (iii) to create a simplified WIC score. Results showed that, although hospitalized women had better outcomes than men, the impact of diabetes was worse for women. Also, non-White patients had longer lengths of stay and higher total charges. Furthermore, the simplified WIC performed equivalently in the generalized linear models predicting standardized total charges and LOS, suggesting that this new score can sufficiently capture the important variability in the data. Our findings underscore the need to evaluate the differential impact of diabetes on physiology and treatment in women and in minorities.

A SNP Based Linkage Map of the Arctic Charr (Salvelinus alpinus) Genome Provides Insights into the Diploidization Process After Whole Genome Duplication.

Diploidization, which follows whole genome duplication events, does not occur evenly across the genome. In salmonid fishes, certain pairs of homeologous chromosomes preserve tetraploid loci in higher frequencies toward the telomeres due to residual tetrasomic inheritance. Research suggests this occurs only in homeologous pairs where one chromosome arm has undergone a fusion event. We present a linkage map for Arctic charr (Salvelinus alpinus), a salmonid species with relatively fewer chromosome fusions. Genotype by sequencing identified 19,418 SNPs, and a linkage map consisting of 4508 markers was constructed from a subset of high quality SNPs and microsatellite markers that were used to anchor the new map to previous versions. Both male- and female-specific linkage maps contained the expected number of 39 linkage groups. The chromosome type associated with each linkage group was determined, and 10 stable metacentric chromosomes were identified, along with a chromosome polymorphism involving the sex chromosome AC04. Two instances of a weak form of pseudolinkage were detected in the telomeric regions of homeologous chromosome arms in both female and male linkage maps. Chromosome arm homologies within the Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) and rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) genomes were determined. Paralogous sequence variants (PSVs) were identified, and their comparative BLASTn hit locations showed that duplicate markers exist in higher numbers on seven pairs of homeologous arms, previously identified as preserving tetrasomy in salmonid species. Homeologous arm pairs where neither arm has been part of a fusion event in Arctic charr had fewer PSVs, suggesting faster diploidization rates in these regions.

Integrated (epi)-Genomic Analyses Identify Subgroup-Specific Therapeutic Targets in CNS Rhabdoid Tumors.

We recently reported that atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumors (ATRTs) comprise at least two transcriptional subtypes with different clinical outcomes; however, the mechanisms underlying therapeutic heterogeneity remained unclear. In this study, we analyzed 191 primary ATRTs and 10 ATRT cell lines to define the genomic and epigenomic landscape of ATRTs and identify subgroup-specific therapeutic targets. We found ATRTs segregated into three epigenetic subgroups with distinct genomic profiles, SMARCB1 genotypes, and chromatin landscape that correlated with differential cellular responses to a panel of signaling and epigenetic inhibitors. Significantly, we discovered that differential methylation of a PDGFRB-associated enhancer confers specific sensitivity of group 2 ATRT cells to dasatinib and nilotinib, and suggest that these are promising therapies for this highly lethal ATRT subtype.

Use of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument for Measuring Physical Functioning in Patients With Heart Failure.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: We evaluated the psychometric properties of the functioning component of the Late-Life Function and Disability Instrument (LLFDI) in individuals with heart failure (HF). METHODS: Factor analyses were used (N = 151) to assess the dimensionality and structure of the basic and advanced lower extremity function subscales. Rasch model scores were compared to the raw means of the items. RESULTS: Rasch scores correlated with the raw means of the items at r = .96, indicating raw means are comparable to the more complicated Rasch analysis in estimating physical functioning using the basic and advanced subscales. CONCLUSIONS: The lower extremity physical functioning subscales of the LLFDI have potential as a clinical assessment tool to identify HF patients who are at high risk for functional limitations.

Transcriptome profiling in fast versus slow-growing rainbow trout across seasonal gradients.

BACKGROUND: Circannual rhythms in vertebrates can influence a wide variety of physiological processes. Some notable examples include annual reproductive cycles and for poikilotherms, seasonal changes modulating growth. Increasing water temperature elevates growth rates in fishes, but increases in photoperiod regime can have similar influences even at constant temperature. Therefore, in order to understand the dynamics of growth in fish it is important to consider the background influence of photoperiod regime on gene expression differences. This study examined the influence of a declining photoperiod regime (winter solstice) compared to an increasing photoperiod regime (spring equinox) on white muscle transcriptome profiles in fast and slow-growing rainbow trout from a commercial aquaculture strain. RESULTS: Slow-growing fish could be characterized as possessing transcriptome profiles that conform in many respects to an endurance training regime in humans. They have elevated mitochondrial and cytosolic creatine kinase expression levels and appear to suppress mTOR-signaling as evidenced by elevated TSC2 expression, and they also have elevated p53 levels. Large fish display a physiological repertoire that may be consistent with strength/resistance physiology having elevated cytoskeletal gene component expression and glycogen metabolism cycling along with higher PI3K levels. In many respects small vs. large fish match eccentric vs. concentric muscle expression patterns, respectively. Lipid metabolic genes are also more elevated in larger fish, the most notable being the G0S2 switch gene. M and Z-line sarcomere remodelling appears to be more prevalent in large fish. Twenty-three out of 26 gene families with previously reported significant SNP-based growth differences were detected as having significant expression differences. CONCLUSIONS: Larger fish display a broader array of genes showing higher expression, and their profiles are more similar to those observed in December lot fish (i.e., an accelerated growth period). Conversely, small fish display gene profiles more similar to seasonal growth decline phases (i.e., September lot fish). Overall, seasonal timing was coupled to greater differences in gene expression compared to differences associated with fish size.