Predominant expression and cellular distribution of fish Agr2 in renal collecting system

Anterior gradient 2 (Agr2) genes encode secretory proteins, and play significant roles in anterior-posterior patterning and tumor metastasis. Agr2 transcripts were shown to display quite diverse tissue distribution in different species, and little was known about the cellular localization of Agr2 proteins. In this study, we identified an Agr2 homologue from gibe[ carp (Carassius auratus gibelio), and revealed the expression patterns and cellular localization during embryogenesis and in adult tissues. The full-length cDNA of CagAgr2 is 803 nucleotides (nt) with an open reading frame of 510 nt encoding 169 amino acids. The Agr2 C-terminus matches to the class I PDZ-interacting motif, suggesting that it might be a PDZ-binding protein. During embryogenesis, CagAgr2 was found to be transcribed in the mucus-secreting hatching gland from tailbud stage and later in the pharynx region, swim bladder and pronephric duct as revealed by RT-PCR and whole mount in situ hybridization. In the adult fish, its transcription was predominantly confined to the kidney, and lower transcription levels were also found in the intestine, ovary and gills. To further localize the Agr2 protein, the anti-CagAgr2 polyclonal antibody was produced and used for immunofluorescence observation. In agreement with mRNA expression data, the Agr2 protein was localized in the pronephric duct of 3dph larvae. In adult fish, Agr2 protein expression is confined to the renal collecting system with asymmetric distribution along the apical-basolateral axis. The data provided suggestive evidence that fish Agr2 might be involved in differentiation and secretory functions of kidney epithelium. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Comparative effectiveness studies to improve clinical outcomes in end stage renal disease: the DEcIDE patient outcomes in end stage renal disease study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence is lacking to inform providers' and patients' decisions about many common treatment strategies for patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD). METHODS/DESIGN: The DEcIDE Patient Outcomes in ESRD Study is funded by the United States (US) Agency for Health Care Research and Quality to study the comparative effectiveness of: 1) antihypertensive therapies, 2) early versus later initiation of dialysis, and 3) intravenous iron therapies on clinical outcomes in patients with ESRD. Ongoing studies utilize four existing, nationally representative cohorts of patients with ESRD, including (1) the Choices for Healthy Outcomes in Caring for ESRD study (1041 incident dialysis patients recruited from October 1995 to June 1999 with complete outcome ascertainment through 2009), (2) the Dialysis Clinic Inc (45,124 incident dialysis patients initiating and receiving their care from 2003-2010 with complete outcome ascertainment through 2010), (3) the United States Renal Data System (333,308 incident dialysis patients from 2006-2009 with complete outcome ascertainment through 2010), and (4) the Cleveland Clinic Foundation Chronic Kidney Disease Registry (53,399 patients with chronic kidney disease with outcome ascertainment from 2005 through 2009). We ascertain patient reported outcomes (i.e., health-related quality of life), morbidity, and mortality using clinical and administrative data, and data obtained from national death indices. We use advanced statistical methods (e.g., propensity scoring and marginal structural modeling) to account for potential biases of our study designs. All data are de-identified for analyses. The conduct of studies and dissemination of findings are guided by input from Stakeholders in the ESRD community. DISCUSSION: The DEcIDE Patient Outcomes in ESRD Study will provide needed evidence regarding the effectiveness of common treatments employed for dialysis patients. Carefully planned dissemination strategies to the ESRD community will enhance studies' impact on clinical care and patients' outcomes.

Pulsioximetría de pacientes en hemodiálisis, de la unidad de terapia renal – fundación cardioinfantil, análisis para establecer recomendaciones

Introducción. En Colombia, el 80% de los pacientes con enfermedad renal crónica en hemodiálisis tienen fístula arteriovenosa periférica (FAV) que asegura el flujo de sangre durante la hemodiálisis (1), la variabilidad en el flujo de sangre en el brazo de la FAV hacia la parte distal, puede afectar la lectura de la oximetría de pulso (SpO2) (2), llevando a la toma de decisiones equivocadas por el personal de salud. El objetivo de este estudio es aclarar si existe diferencia entre la SpO2 del brazo de la FAV y el brazo contralateral. Materiales y métodos. Se realizó un estudio de correlación entre los valores de SpO2 del brazo con FAV contra el brazo sin FAV, de 40 pacientes que asistieron a hemodiálisis. La recolección de los datos se llevó a cabo, con un formato que incluyó el resultado de la pulsioximetria y variables asociadas, antes, durante y después de la hemodiálisis. Se comparó la mediana de los deltas de las diferencias con pruebas estadísticas T Student – Mann Whitney, aceptando un valor significativo de p < 0,05. Resultados. No se encontraron diferencias estadísticamente significativas de la SpO2 entre el brazo con FAV y el brazo sin FAV, antes, durante y después de la diálisis, sin embargo si se apreció una correlación positiva estadísticamente significativa. Conclusiones. Se encontró correlación positiva estadísticamente significativa, donde no hubo diferencias en el resultado la pulsioximetría entre el brazo con FAV y brazo sin FAV, por lo tanto es válido tomar la pulsioximetría en cualquiera de los brazos.

Safety of non-therapeutic atomoxetine exposures - a national poison data system study

AIMS This study's objective is to assess the safety of non-therapeutic atomoxetine exposures reported to the US National Poison Database System (NPDS). METHODS This is a retrospective database study of non-therapeutic single agent ingestions of atomoxetine in children and adults reported to the NPDS between 2002 and 2010. RESULTS A total of 20 032 atomoxetine exposures were reported during the study period, and 12 370 of these were single agent exposures. The median age was 9 years (interquartile range 3, 14), and 7380 were male (59.7%). Of the single agent exposures, 8813 (71.2%) were acute exposures, 3315 (26.8%) were acute-on-chronic, and 166 (1.3%) were chronic. In 10 608 (85.8%) cases, exposure was unintentional, in 1079 (8.7%) suicide attempts, and in 629 (5.1%) cases abuse. Of these cases, 3633 (29.4 %) were managed at health-care facilities. Acute-on-chronic exposure was associated with an increased risk of a suicidal reason for exposure compared with acute ingestions (odds ratio 1.44, 95% confidence interval 1.26-1.65). Most common clinical effects were drowsiness or lethargy (709 cases; 5.7%), tachycardia (555; 4.5%), and nausea (388; 3.1%). Major toxicity was observed in 21 cases (seizures in nine (42.9%), tachycardia in eight (38.1%), coma in six (28.6%), and ventricular dysrhythmia in one case (4.8%)). CONCLUSIONS Non-therapeutic atomoxetine exposures were largely safe, but seizures were rarely observed.

Identification of maltreatment type in children with disabilities using the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS)

This study was a retrospective design and used secondary data from the National Child Abuse and Neglect Data System (NCANDS), provided by the National Data Archive on Child Abuse and Neglect Family Life Development Center administered by Cornell University. The dataset contained information for the year 2005 on children from birth to 18 years of age. Child abuse and neglect for disabled children, was evaluated in-depth in the present study. Descriptive and statistical analysis was performed using the children with and without disabilities. It was found that children with disabilities have a lower rate of substantiation that likely indicates the interference of reporting due to their handicap. The results of this research demonstrate the important need to teach professionals and laypersons alike on how to recognize and substantiate abuse among disabled children.^

National accident sampling system crashworthiness data system 1988-1990.

Mode of access: Internet.

National accident sampling system crashworthiness data system 1991-1993.

Mode of access: Internet.

National automotive sampling system crashworthiness data system 1992-1994.

Mode of access: Internet.

National automotive sampling system crashworthiness data system 1993-1995.

Mode of access: Internet.

National automotive sampling system crashworthiness data system 1994-1996.

Mode of access: Internet.

National automotive sampling system crashworthiness data system 1995-1997.

Mode of access: Internet.

A pilot study of nuclear medicine reporting through the Medically Oriented Data System /

Mode of access: Internet.

Pilot climate data system.

Cover title.

Federal energy data system (FEDS) : technical documentation /

"DOE/EIA-0031/1. CRN78030l-00087. SP-MN."