Rush University Medical Center

About: Rush University Medical Center is a healthcare organization based out in Chicago, Illinois, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 13915 authors who have published 29027 publications receiving 1379216 citations. The organization is also known as: Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center.

A molecular network of the aging human brain provides insights into the pathology and cognitive decline of Alzheimer's disease.

Abstract: There is a need for new therapeutic targets with which to prevent Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a major contributor to aging-related cognitive decline. Here we report the construction and validation of a molecular network of the aging human frontal cortex. Using RNA sequence data from 478 individuals, we first build a molecular network using modules of coexpressed genes and then relate these modules to AD and its neuropathologic and cognitive endophenotypes. We confirm these associations in two independent AD datasets. We also illustrate the use of the network in prioritizing amyloid- and cognition-associated genes for in vitro validation in human neurons and astrocytes. These analyses based on unique cohorts enable us to resolve the role of distinct cortical modules that have a direct effect on the accumulation of AD pathology from those that have a direct effect on cognitive decline, exemplifying a network approach to complex diseases.

Quality of life measurement in bone marrow transplantation: development of the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Bone Marrow Transplant (FACT-BMT) scale

Abstract: We developed a 12-item bone marrow transplant subscale (BMTS) for the general Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) measure. The subscale combined with the FACT, (FACT-BMT) is a 47-item, valid and reliable measure of five dimensions of quality of life in bone marrow transplant patients. The three-step validation process involved the generation and selection of BMT-specific items and the testing of the overall measure. Items were selected from a list produced by seven oncology experts and 15 patients and were designed to assess content not represented in the general FACT items. A total of 182 patients completed the FACT-BMT at baseline, prior to BMT. An analysis measuring sensitivity to change was performed with 74 patients after transplantation and 60 patients over the three time-points of baseline, hospital discharge and 100 days. The FACT-BMT and all subscales were correlated, sensitivity to change was measured, and the internal consistency for each scale was calculated. Coefficients of reliability and validity ranged from 0.86 to 0.89 for the entire FACT-BMT and 0.54 to 0.63 for the BMTS. The BMTS was able to discriminate patients on the basis of performance status rating and also demonstrated sensitivity to change over time. The FACT-BMT has good psychometric properties for use in assessing quality of life in bone marrow transplant patients. The addition of the bone marrow transplant subscale to the general FACT measure makes it an excellent choice for use in BMT clinical trials.

Safety considerations with fibrate therapy.

Abstract: Fibrates are an important class of drugs for the management of dyslipidemia. This class of drugs is generally well tolerated but is infrequently associated with several safety issues. Fibrates, most likely by an effect mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor–α, may reversibly increase creatinine and homocysteine but are not associated with an increased risk for renal failure in clinical trials. Fibrates are associated with a slightly increased risk (

Depression and epilepsy: How closely related are they?

Abstract: Article abstract Depressive disorders (DDs) are the most common type of psychiatric co-morbidity in patients with epilepsy. They are more likely to occur in patients with partial seizure disorders of temporal and frontal lobe origin and are more frequent among patients with poorly controlled seizures. Despite their relatively high prevalence, DDs remain unrecognized and untreated in a large proportion of patients. This article highlights the evidence of a close association between DDs and epilepsy, beginning with the bi-directional relationship between the two disorders. Not only are patients with epilepsy more likely to experience a DD, but a history of DD preceding the onset of the seizure disorder is more likely to be identified in patients with epilepsy than in a control group. In support of these observations, we review data from animal models of epilepsy showing that decreased activity of serotonin, norepinephrine, dopamine, and GABA facilitate the kindling process of seizure foci, worsen seizure frequency and severity, and are reversed or blocked by antidepressant drugs. Decreased activity of these neurotransmitters is a pivotal pathogenic mechanism of DDs and forms the basis of their pharmacotherapy. Thus, DDs and epilepsy may share common pathogenic mechanisms that facilitate the occurrence of one in the presence of the other. Contrary to long-held beliefs by patients and clinicians alike, in the sense that DDs are a "normal reaction" to the obstacles posed by epilepsy, we review evidence that points to their biologic or endogenous nature. We find a genetic predisposition to DDs, as evidenced by the frequent family history of mood disorders in these patients. Neuroimaging and neuropsychological data support a frontal lobe dysfunction in DDs, and a recent study documents concomitant dysfunction of mesial temporal structures. Depressive disorders have various clinical presentations, some typical of the different types of mood disorders in non-epileptic patients, others constituting rather frequent atypical presentations that can easily go unrecognized. A review of the pharmacologic treatment of DDs in epilepsy highlights the lack of scientific data and points to the empirical form in which these patients have been treated up to the present time. Contrary to clinicians' fears, most antidepressant drugs are safe in patients with epilepsy.