Saint Francis University

About: Saint Francis University is a education organization based out in Loretto, Pennsylvania, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Osteoblast. The organization has 1694 authors who have published 2038 publications receiving 87149 citations.

Mutation analysis of the SLC26A4, FOXI1 and KCNJ10 genes in individuals with congenital hearing loss.

Abstract: Pendred syndrome (PDS) and DFNB4 comprise a phenotypic spectrum of sensorineural hearing loss disorders that typically result from biallelic mutations of the SLC26A4 gene. Although PDS and DFNB4 are recessively inherited, sequencing of the coding regions and splice sites of SLC26A4 in individuals suspected to be affected with these conditions often fails to identify two mutations. We investigated the potential contribution of large SLC26A4 deletions and duplications to sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) by screening 107 probands with one known SLC26A4 mutation by Multiplex Ligation-dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA). A heterozygous deletion, spanning exons 4–6, was detected in only one individual, accounting for approximately 1% of the missing mutations in our cohort. This low frequency is consistent with previously published MLPA results. We also examined the potential involvement of digenic inheritance in PDS/DFNB4 by sequencing the coding regions of FOXI1 and KCNJ10. Of the 29 probands who were sequenced, three carried nonsynonymous variants including one novel sequence change in FOXI1 and two polymorphisms in KCNJ10. We performed a review of prior studies and, in conjunction with our current data, conclude that the frequency of FOXI1 (1.4%) and KCNJ10 (3.6%) variants in PDS/DFNB4 individuals is low. Our results, in combination with previously published reports, indicate that large SLC26A4 deletions and duplications as well as mutations of FOXI1 and KCNJ10 play limited roles in the pathogenesis of SNHL and suggest that other genetic factors likely contribute to the phenotype.

Susceptibility of Bemisia tabaci MEAM1 (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) to Imidacloprid, Thiamethoxam, Dinotefuran and Flupyradifurone in South Florida

Abstract: Populations of Bemisa tabaci MEAM1 were established from nineteen locations in south Florida, primarily from commercial tomato fields, and were tested using a cotton leaf petiole systemic uptake method for susceptibility to the nicotinic acetylcholine agonist insecticides imidacloprid, thiamethoxam, dinotefuran and flupyradifurone. Eleven populations produced LC50s for one or more chemicals that were not significantly different from the susceptible laboratory colony based on overlapping fiducial limits, indicating some degree of susceptibility. LC50s more than a 100-fold the laboratory colony were measured in at least one population for each material tested, indicating tolerance. LC50s (ppm) from field populations ranged from 0.901–24.952 for imidacloprid, 0.965–24.430 for thiamethoxam, 0.043–3.350 for dinotefuran and 0.011–1.471 for flupyradifurone. Based on overlapping fiducial limits, there were no significant differences in relative mean potency estimates for flupyradifurone and dinotefuran in relation to imidacloprid and thiamethoxam.

Measured Physical Activity and 30-Day Rehospitalization in Heart Failure Patients.

Abstract: BACKGROUND Patients hospitalized with decompensated heart failure are at high risk for readmission within 30 days of discharge Since physical inactivity is associated with increased health care utilization in other diseases, it may predict rehospitalization in heart failure METHODS In a single-center, prospective study, physical activity was measured following hospital discharge using an accelerometer on the wrist We then related this activity to the 30-day all-cause rehospitalization rate in heart failure Each minute of activity was dichotomized into higher or lower intensity, based on a threshold of 3000 vector magnitude units Counts above this threshold corresponded to a higher level of physical activity Logistic regression and Kaplan-Meier survival analyses were used to relate the activity group to 30-day readmissions RESULTS Ninety-five patients admitted to a heart failure unit were screened; 61 met inclusion criteria and provided consent Fifty patients were evaluated Forty-six percent were male, mean age was 71 ± 15 years, and 46% had left ventricular ejection fraction <40% Thirty-day all-cause hospitalizations occurred in 13 of these 50 patients (26%) Sixty-six percent and 34% were dichotomized into the higher and lower physical activity groups, respectively, over the first week; the latter were more likely to be readmitted within 30 days, with an OR = 50 (95% CI, 13-191), P = 02 CONCLUSION Physical inactivity is related to 30-day all-cause readmissions for heart failure Further studies are necessary to assess causality and to determine whether treatments directed at increasing physical activity could reduce readmission rate