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.

Phase II study to evaluate the safety and efficacy of intravenous palonosetron (PAL) in primary malignant glioma (MG) patients receiving standard radiotherapy (RT) and concomitant temozolomide (TMZ)

Abstract: In malignant glioma (MG) patients undergoing radiation therapy (RT) with concomitant temozolomide, chemoradiation-induced nausea and vomiting (cRINV) degrades quality of life (QoL) and reduces treatment adherence, which thereby potentially compromises cancer control. We conducted a 6-week phase II single-arm trial of PAL, a second-generation 5-HT3RA antiemetic, for cRINV prevention in MG patients receiving radiation therapy (RT; 54–60 Gy) and concomitant daily temozolomide (TMZ; 75 mg/m2/dX42d). Each week before radiation, patients received single-dose palonosetron (PAL) 0.25 mg IV (total = 6 doses). With safety/tolerability as the primary endpoint, the study was designed to differentiate between toxicity rates of 25 % (unacceptable) and 10 % (acceptable) toxicity rates. Secondary endpoints included the percentage of patients achieving cRINV complete response (CR: no emesis or rescue antiemetic) and QoL. Patients reported adverse effects in Common Toxicity Criteria for Adverse Events diaries; recorded vomiting, nausea, and rescue medication use in diaries (which were used to assess cRINV-CR); and reported QoL 4 days/week using the Modified Functional Living Index-Emesis (M-FLIE) and Osoba nausea and vomiting/retching modules. We enrolled 38 patients (mean age 59 years, 55 % female, 95 % white, 68 % used oral corticosteroids, 76 % reported low alcohol use). Four patients (10.5 %) experienced unacceptable treatment-related toxicity, defined as any grade 3, 4, or 5 non-hematologic toxicity. M-FLIE and Osoba scores showed no evidence of treatment impact on QoL. Overall, cRINV-CR rates for 6 weeks ranged from 67–79 %. Single-dose weekly PAL is a safe and tolerable antiemetic for cRINV prevention in MG patients receiving standard RT and concomitant TMZ.

Adenylate cyclase-stimulating, bone-resorbing and B TGF-like activities in canine apocrine cell adenocarcinoma of the anal sac

Abstract: Canine apocrine cell adenocarcinoma of the anal sac (APO-AS) is a spontaneously occurring tumor that causes humorally medicated hypercalcemia in 90% of cases. To further define the nature of the responsible mediator in APO-AS, we examined tumor extracts from five APO-AS and four control tumors for adenylate cyclase-stimulating activity (ACSA). All extracts from APO-AS contained potent ACSA, whereas the four control tumors did not. The ACSA extracted from one tumor demonstrated a dose response curve parallel to that of synthetic bovinePTH-(1–34) and was 80% inhibited by Nle8,18,Tyr34 bPTH-(3–34)amide at a concentration of 10−5 M. Extracts from three APO-AS and three control tumors were also examined forin vitro bone-resorbing activity (BRA). All APO-AS contained significant BRA, stimulating resorption 1.47 to 2.13-fold over basal, whereas none of the control tumors stimulated resorption. Purification of one extract using C18 reverse-phase high pressure liquid chromatography (RP-HPLC) resulted in a single sharp peak of ACSA which was 400-fold purified compared with the initial extract. This pool also contained significant bone-resorbing activity, whereas none of the adjacent pools did. Purification of a second extract using sequential CN and C18 RP-HPLC followed by size exclusion HPLC resulted in material that was at least 10,000-fold purified, and showed co-purification of ACSA and B TGF-like activity.

Innovation in resuscitation: A novel clinical decision display system for advanced cardiac life support.

Abstract: INTRODUCTION The Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) Clinical Decision Display System (CDDS) is a novel application designed to optimize team organization and facilitate decision-making during ACLS resuscitations. We hypothesized that resuscitation teams would more consistently adhere to ACLS guideline time intervals in simulated resuscitation scenarios with the CDDS compared to without. METHODS We conducted a simulation-based, non-blinded, randomized, crossover-design study with resuscitation teams comprised of Emergency Medicine physicians, registered nurses, critical care technicians, and paramedics. Each team performed 4 ACLS scenarios in randomized sequences, half with the CDDS and half without. We analyzed the resuscitations and recorded the times of interventions that have defined intervals by ACLS: rhythm checks, epinephrine administration, and shock delivery. In addition, we surveyed each resuscitation team regarding their experience using the CDDS. RESULTS On average, teams performed rhythm checks 4.9 s closer to ACLS guidelines with the CDDS (p = 0.0358). Teams were also more consistent; on average, teams reduced the variation of time between consecutive doses of epinephrine by 45% (p = 0.0001) and defibrillation by 47% (p < 0.0001). Ninety-eight percent of participants indicated they would use the CDDS if available in real cardiac arrests. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates that the CDDS improves the accuracy and precision of timed ACLS interventions in a simulated setting. Resuscitation teams were strongly in favor of utilizing the CDDS in clinical practice. Further investigations of the introduction of the platform into real time clinical environments will be needed to assess true efficacy and patient outcomes.

Prevalence and factors associated with alcohol consumption among persons with diabetes in Kampala, Uganda: a cross sectional study

Abstract: The prevalence of diabetes has been rising increasing rapidly in middle- and low-income countries. In Africa, the World Health Organization projections anticipate diabetes mellitus to be the seventh leading cause of death in by 2030. Alcohol consumption influences diabetes evolution, in such a way that it can interfere with self-care behaviours which are important determinants of diabetes prognosis. In this study, we evaluated factors associated with alcohol consumption among persons with diabetes in Kampala to inform management policies and improve comprehensive diabetes care. A cross-sectional study was conducted systematically among 290 adults with diabetes, attending diabetic clinics at Mulago National Referral Hospital and St Francis Hospital Nsambya. Data were entered and analysed in Epi-Info version 7 and STATA 13 software. Modified Poisson regression was used to identify factors associated with alcohol consumption among persons with diabetes. All tests were two-sided and the significance level for all analyses was set to p < 0.05. The prevalence of alcohol consumption among persons with diabetes was 23.45% [95% CI: 18.9–28.7%]. Divorced, separated and widowed patients (Adj PR: 0.42, 95% CI: 0.21–0.83); and Protestant (Adj PR: 0.44, 95% CI: 0.24–0.82); Muslim (Adj PR: 0.30, 95% CI: 0.14–0.62); and Pentecostal (Adj PR: 0.32, 95% CI: 0.15–0.65) patients were less likely to consume alcohol. Diabetic patients who had a diabetes duration greater than 5 years were more likely to consume alcohol (Adj PR: 1.90, 95% CI: 1.25–2.88). Approximately one-quarter of participants consumed alcohol. However being catholic, never being married and having diabetes for more than 5 years predisposed persons with diabetes to alcohol consumption. Sensitization messages regarding alcohol consumption among persons with diabetes should be target patients who have never been married and those who have spent more than 5 years with diabetes; religion should also be considered as an important venue for health education in the community.