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.

Effect of Troponin I Elevation on Duration of Mechanical Ventilation and Length of Intensive Care Unit Stay in Patients With Sepsis

Abstract: Background: Sepsis is a leading cause of mortality and morbidity. Recent studies suggest that troponin elevation is associated with increased mortality in sepsis patients. The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of troponin elevation on mechanical ventilation duration and intensive care unit (ICU) length of stay in patients with sepsis. Additionally, we investigated the association between troponin elevation and septic shock. Methods: The study is a retrospective observational cohort study, conducted in a community teaching hospital between October 2015 and April 2018. All adult ICU patients with sepsis who required invasive mechanical ventilation were included. Primary outcomes were mechanical ventilation duration and ICU length of stay. Secondary outcomes were hospital length of stay, in-hospital mortality and association with septic shock. Results: A total of 125 patients were included. Troponin was elevated in 36% (45/125) of the patients. Duration of mechanical ventilation in hours was longer for troponin-positive group (troponin positive: 55.6 h vs. troponin negative: 49.6 h, 95% CI 0.001 - 0.063, P = 0.032). ICU length of stay was similar (troponin positive: 4.6 days vs. troponin negative: 4.3 days, 95% CI 0.130 - 0.270). Septic shock had higher occurrence in elevated troponin group (troponin positive: 62.2% (28/45) vs. troponin negative: 43.8% (35/80), risk ratio (RR) 1.4, P = 0.04, 95% CI 1.015 - 1.99). Conclusions: Troponin elevation was associated with longer duration of mechanical ventilation in patients admitted to ICU with sepsis. Troponin elevation was associated with higher risk for development of septic shock. No significant effect was observed in ICU length of stay and hospital length of stay. J Clin Med Res. 2019;11(2):127-132 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jocmr3713

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) transactivates nuclear factor of activated T‐cells (NFAT) in cells of the osteoblastic lineage

Abstract: Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), a member of the Cyr 61, CTGF, Nov (CCN) family of proteins, regulates multiple cellular functions. Overexpression of CTGF in vivo causes osteopenia, but in vitro CTGF can induce osteoblastogenesis. To investigate mechanisms involved in the effects of CTGF on osteoblastic cell differentiation, we examined whether CTGF modifies the activity of nuclear factor of activated T-cells (NFATc) 1, a transcription factor that cooperates with osterix in the formation of new bone. CTGF increased the transactivation of a transiently transfected reporter construct, where 9 NFAT binding sites direct the expression of luciferase (9xNFAT-Luc) and the activity of the Regulators of calcineurin 1 exon 4 (Rcan1.4) promoter, an NFAT target gene. We postulated that CTGF could modify the phosphorylation of NFAT by regulating glycogen synthase kinase 3beta (GSK3beta). CTGF increased the mRNA levels of Protein kinase cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) dependent type II (Prkg2), the gene encoding for cGMP dependent protein kinase II (cGKII) which phosphorylates GSK3beta. Accordingly, CTGF induced GSK3beta phosphorylation and decreased the active pool of GSK3beta, a kinase that phosphorylates NFAT and leads to its nuclear export. As a consequence, CTGF favored the nuclear localization of NFATc1. Downregulation of PRKG2 by RNA interference reversed the effect of CTGF on the transactivation of the 9xNFAT reporter construct and the Rcan 1.4 promoter, confirming the role of cGKII in the activation of NFAT by CTGF. In conclusion, CTGF enhances NFAT signaling through the induction of cGKII and the phosphorylation of GSK3beta.

La planificación estratégica e indicadores de calidad educativa

Abstract: Este articulo presenta los resultados obtenidos a partir de la aplicacion de una matriz de indicadores de calidad educativa, desde la planificacion estrategica. La matriz en cuestion se utilizo en trece instituciones de educacion en el ano 2016. Es una investigacion exploratoria, en el cual el metodo de trabajo de campo ha sido seleccionado como el mas eficaz para conocer a mayor profundidad la aplicabilidad del modelo del diagnostico de calidad.Se analiza el modelo de calidad mediante las percepciones y aspiraciones de los sujetos que participan en la investigacion y mediante la recoleccion de registros y documentos relevantes para lograr comprender desde una perspectiva holistica la problematica o necesidad educativa institucional en la aplicabilidad del modelo.

Decline in the prevalence HIV among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Tanzania 2001-2011.

Abstract: Background: The Tanzania National AIDS Control Programme has established HIV sentinel surveillance among antenatal clinic (ANC) attendees as one of the methods for collecting data on HIV prevalence. This article provides trends on HIV prevalence for 92 sentinel sites that have constantly been part of the surveillance system since 2001 and have participated in at least three consecutive rounds. Method: The surveillance population included all pregnant women aged 15–49 years who were attending a selected sentinel ANC site for the first time for any pregnancy between 2001 and 2011. Serial testing for HIV infection was done anonymously by detecting for the presence of IgG antibodies to HIV on dried blood spot (DBS) specimens. HIV trends were calculated taking into account random effects from sites on the following variables: region, sites and socio-demographic characteristics defined as age, marital status, parity, education level and duration of stay at present residence. Results: Overall, there was a significant decline in HIV prevalence from 9.6% in 2001 to 5.6% in 2011 (p<0.01). Specifically, the HIV prevalence among 15-24 years’ pregnant women significantly declined from 7.8% in 2001/2002 to 4% in 2011 (p<0.01). The decline in HIV prevalence occurred irrespective of residence, marital status, education level or previous pregnancies. Conclusion: There has been a significant decline in HIV infections among young pregnant women attending ANC clinics in Tanzania since 2001. This study also indicates that ANC surveillance among pregnant women over time can provide useful estimates of HIV situation between the population surveys.