Medical Specialties Commons^™

Time-Series Model To Predict Impact Of H1n1 Influenza On A Children's Hospital., Michael C. Spaeder, Jonathan R. Stroud, Xiaoyan Song

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The spring of 2009 witnessed the emergence of a novel influenza A(H1N1) virus resulting in the first influenza pandemic since 1968. In autumn of 2010, the 2009 novel H1N1 influenza strain re-emerged. We performed a retrospective time-series analysis of all patients with laboratory-confirmed H1N1 influenza who presented to our institution during 2009. Cases of influenza were assembled into 3-day aggregates and forecasting models of H1N1 influenza incidence were created. Forecasting estimates of H1N1 incidence for the 2010–2011 season were compared to actual values for our institution to assess model performance. Ninety-five percent confidence intervals calculated around our model's forecasts were …

Significant Differences In Markers Of Oxidant Injury Between Idiopathic And Bronchopulmonary-Dysplasia-Associated Pulmonary Hypertension In Children, Kimberly B. Vera, Donald Moore, English Flack, Michael Liske, Marshall Summar

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

While oxidant stress is elevated in adult forms of pulmonary hypertension (PH), levels of oxidant stress in pediatric PH are unknown. The objective of this study is to measure F₂-isoprostanes, a marker of oxidant stress, in children with idiopathic pulmonary hypertension (IPH) and PH due to bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD). We hypothesized that F₂-isoprostanes in pediatric IPH and PH associated with BPD will be higher than in controls. Plasma F₂-isoprostanes were measured in pediatric PH patients during clinically indicated cardiac catheterization and compared with controls. F₂-Isoprostane levels were compared between IPH, PH due …

Survival Motor Neuron Protein Deficiency Impairs Myotube Formation By Altering Myogenic Gene Expression And Focal Adhesion Dynamics, Katherine V. Bricceno, Tara Martinez, Evgenia Leikina, Stephanie Duguez, Terence A. Partridge, Leonid V. Chernomordik, Kenneth H. Fischbeck, Charlotte J. Sumner, Barrington G. Burnett

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

While spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is characterized by motor neuron degeneration, it is unclear whether and how much survival motor neuron (SMN) protein deficiency in muscle contributes to the pathophysiology of the disease. There is increasing evidence from patients and SMA model organisms that SMN deficiency causes intrinsic muscle defects. Here we investigated the role of SMN in muscle development using muscle cell lines and primary myoblasts. Formation of multinucleate myotubes by SMN-deficient muscle cells is inhibited at a stage preceding plasma membrane fusion. We found increased expression and reduced induction of key muscle development factors, such as MyoD and …

Overlap Subtype Of Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Is Associated With An Adverse Prognosis, Functional Impairment, And Inferior Patient-Reported Outcomes: A Chronic Graft-Versus-Host Disease Consortium Study, Joseph Pidala, Georgia Vogelsang, Paul Martin, Xiaoyu Chai, Barry Storer, Steven Pavletic, Daniel Weisdorf, Madan Jagasia, Corey Cutler, Jeanne Palmer, David Jacobsohn, Sally Arai, Stephanie J. Lee

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background

The National Institutes of Health Consensus Conference proposed the term “overlap” graft-versus-host disease to describe the situation when both acute and chronic graft-versus-host disease are present.

Design and Methods

We examined whether the overlap subtype of graft-versus-host disease was associated with a different prognosis, functional limitations, or patient-reported outcomes compared to “classic” chronic graft-versus-host disease without any acute features.

Results

Prospective data were collected from 427 patients from nine centers. Patients were classified as having overlap (n=352) or classic chronic (n=75) graft-versus-host disease based on reported organ involvement. Overlap …

Transcriptional Regulation Of N-Acetylglutamate Synthase, Sandra Kirsch Heibel, Giselle Yvette Lopez, Maria Panglao, Sonal Sodha, Leonardo Marino-Ramirez, Mendel Tuchman, Ljubica Caldovic

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

The urea cycle converts toxic ammonia to urea within the liver of mammals. At least 6 enzymes are required for ureagenesis, which correlates with dietary protein intake. The transcription of urea cycle genes is, at least in part, regulated by glucocorticoid and glucagon hormone signaling pathways. N-acetylglutamate synthase (NAGS) produces a unique cofactor, N-acetylglutamate (NAG), that is essential for the catalytic function of the first and rate-limiting enzyme of ureagenesis, carbamyl phosphate synthetase 1 (CPS1). However, despite the important role of NAGS in ammonia removal, little is known about the mechanisms of its regulation. We identified two regions of high …

Mechanisms Of Fetal Programming In Hypertension., John E. Jones, Julie A. Jurgens, Sarah A. Evans, Riley C. Ennis, Van Anthony Villar, Pedro A. Jose

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Events that occur in the early fetal environment have been linked to long-term health and lifespan consequences in the adult. Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR), which may occur as a result of nutrient insufficiency, exposure to hormones, or disruptions in placental structure or function, may induce the fetus to alter its developmental program in order to adapt to the new conditions. IUGR may result in a decrease in the expression of genes that are responsible for nephrogenesis as nutrients are rerouted to the development of more essential organs. Fetal survival under these conditions often results in low birth weight and a …

Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling In Pediatric Drug Development: A Clinician's Request For A More Integrated Approach., Karel M. Allegaert, Anne Smits, John N. Van Den Anker

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Hypertension-Related Gene Polymorphisms Of G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Kinase 4 Are Associated With Nt-Probnp Concentration In Normotensive Healthy Adults, Junichi Yatabe, Midori S. Yatabe, Minoru Yoneda, Robin A. Felder, Pedro A. Jose, Hironobu Sanada

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

G protein-coupled receptor kinase 4 (GRK4) with activating polymorphisms desensitize the natriuric renal tubular D1 dopamine receptor, and these GRK4 polymorphisms are strongly associated with salt sensitivity and hypertension. Meanwhile, N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) may be useful in detecting slight volume expansion. However, relations between hypertension-related gene polymorphisms including GRK4 and cardiovascular indices such as NT-proBNP are not clear, especially in healthy subjects. Therefore, various hypertension-related polymorphisms and cardiovascular indices were analyzed in 97 normotensive, healthy Japanese adults. NT-proBNP levels were significantly higher in subjects with two or more GRK4 polymorphic alleles. Other hypertension-related gene polymorphisms, such as those …

Hiv-1 Resistant Cdk2-Knockdown Macrophage-Like Cells Generated From 293t Cell-Derived Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Marina Jerebtsova, Namita Kumari, Min Xu, Gustavo Brito Alvim De Melo, Xiaomei Niu, Kuan-Teh Jeang, Sergei Nekhai

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

A major challenge in studies of human diseases involving macrophages is low yield and heterogeneity of the primary cells and limited ability of these cells for transfections and genetic manipulations. To address this issue, we developed a simple and efficient three steps method for somatic 293T cells reprogramming into monocytes and macrophage-like cells. First, 293T cells were reprogrammed into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) through a transfection-mediated expression of two factors, Oct-4 and Sox2, resulting in a high yield of iPSC. Second, the obtained iPSC were differentiated into monocytes using IL-3 and M-CSF treatment. And third, monocytes were differentiated into …

Evaluation Of Sedimentation Rate Methodology Reveals An Unusual Pediatric Subpopulation With Lupus Or Lupus-Like Syndrome And Hemolytic Anemia, Edward C. Wong, Deborah Yuan, Claas Hinze, Lawrence Jung

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Purpose

Sedimentaion rate is often used to manage pediatric patients with rheumatologic disease. Most management decisions are dependent on studies which have used Wintrobe or Westergren sedimentation rate methodologies. However, these methods suffer from the need for relatively large amounts of blood and long turn-around times. Determination of sedimentation rate using laser kinetic rate determination has allowed calibration to Westergren methods, low volume of blood needed for testing and very rapid results. We sought to compare the Wintrobe method to the ESR Stat method (kinetic method; HemaTechnologies, Lebanon NJ) to determine suitability of the ESR Stat method for patient testing. …

The Test Characteristics Of Head Circumference Measurements For Pathology Associated With Head Enlargement: A Retrospective Cohort Study, Carrie Daymont, Moira Zabel, Chris Feudtner, David M. Rubin

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

Background

The test characteristics of head circumference (HC) measurement percentile criteria for the identification of previously undetected pathology associated with head enlargement in primary care are unknown.

Methods

Electronic patient records were reviewed to identify children age 3 days to 3 years with new diagnoses of intracranial expansive conditions (IEC) and metabolic and genetic conditions associated with macrocephaly (MGCM). We tested the following HC percentile threshold criteria: ever above the 95th, 97th, or 99.6thpercentile and ever crossing 2, 4, or 6 increasing major percentile lines. The Centers for Disease Control and World Health Organization growth curves were used, as well …

Reasons For Low Pandemic H1n1 2009 Vaccine Acceptance Within A College Sample, Russell D. Ravert, Linda Y. Fu

Pediatrics Faculty Publications

This study examined health beliefs associated with novel influenza A (H1N1) immunization among US college undergraduates during the 2009-2010 pandemic. Undergraduates (ages 18–24 years) from a large Midwestern University were invited to complete an online survey during March, 2010, five months after H1N1 vaccines became available. Survey items measured H1N1 vaccine history and H1N1-related attitudes based on the health belief literature. Logistic regression was used to identify attitudes associated with having received an H1N1 vaccine, and thematic analysis of student comments was conducted to further understand influences on vaccine decisions. Among the 296 students who participated in the survey, 15.2% …