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.

Relationship Between Residual Mitral Regurgitation and Clinical and Quality-of-Life Outcomes After Transcatheter and Medical Treatments in Heart Failure: COAPT Trial.

Abstract: Background: In the randomized COAPT trial (Cardiovascular Outcomes Assessment of the MitraClip Percutaneous Therapy for Heart Failure Patients With Functional Mitral Regurgitation), among 614 patie

Antipsychotic Use in Dementia: A Systematic Review of Benefits and Risks From Meta-Analyses

Abstract: Background:The purpose of this review is to evaluate the data on the use of antipsychotics in individuals with dementia from meta-analyses.Methods:We performed a literature search of PubMed, MEDLIN...

Socio-Demographic Correlates of Fear of Crime and the Social Context of Contemporary Urban China

Abstract: Previous research in the West has established major socio-demographic correlates of fear of crime. The interpretation of these correlates is typically based on the concept of physical or social vulnerability of individuals. These correlates are implicitly regarded as invariant to social or community contexts, reflecting universal human behavioral patterns. The present study argues that social change may alter patterns of perceptions associated with fear among socio-demographic groups, thus affecting socio-demographic correlates of fear of crime. We explore how social changes in China have created a generational gap that influences the effects of age and education on fear of crime. The study finds that, in contrast with the well-established patterns in Western communities, the young and educated exhibit a higher level of fear of crime in urban China than their counterparts. The study also finds that consistent with Western literature, females are fearful and that personal victimization experience increases the level of fear. We discuss the social and community processes that produce these interesting patterns.

Do patients' unrealistic weight goals have prognostic significance for bariatric surgery?

Abstract: Research has shown that obese individuals report goal weight losses in excess of those achievable with standard treatments for obesity. Little is known about the goal weights of bariatric surgery patients, or the prognostic significance of unrealistic goals on surgical outcomes, including weight losses and changes in associated behavioral and psychological domains. A consecutive series of 139 gastric bypass (GBP) surgery candidates reported weight loss goals prior to GBP surgery and at 6 and 12 months after surgery. Dream, Happy, Acceptable, and Disappointed weights following treatment were reported. Consistent with previous research, goal weights at baseline were lower than those attainable even with surgery. Repeated measures analyses, controlling for baseline BMI, revealed no changes in any of the goal weights from baseline to 6 and 12 months following surgery. After controlling for baseline BMI, weight loss expectations at baseline did not predict weight loss at either follow-up point. Unrealistic weight goals were also largely unrelated to psychological functioning prior to surgery, and were unrelated to the magnitude of the improvements in eatingrelated behaviors and psychological functioning after surgery. Interestingly, mean goal weights parallel current weight classifications: i.e., dream BMI corresponds with the cutoff for normal (BMI ≤ 5), happy BMI (=27) with the lower bound for “overweight” and acceptable BMI (=30) with the lower bound for obesity. Among GBP surgery patients, goal weights are remarkably consistent over time, and unrealistic weight loss goals do not appear to have negative prognostic significance on surgical outcomes.

Cortisol enhances the transcription of insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-6 in cultured osteoblasts.

Abstract: Previous work indicate that glucocorticoids inhibit the synthesis of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and IGF-binding protein-3 (IG-FBP-3), -4, and -5, but not IGFBP-6, in osteoblast cultures. IGFBP-6 binds IGF-II with high affinity and prevents IGF-II-mediated effects. As IGF-II is present at high concentrations in bone, we postulate that glucocorticoids may regulate IGF-II by altering IGFBP-6 synthesis. We tested the expression of IGFBP-6 in cultures of osteoblast-enriched cells from 22-day-old fetal rat calvariae (Ob cells). Treatment of Ob cells with cortisol caused a time- and dose-dependent increase in IGFBP-6 messenger RNA levels, as determined by Northern blot analysis. The effect was maximal after 48 h of treatment and observed with cortisol concentrations of 10 nM to 1 microM. Treatment with cortisol also increased IGFBP-6 polypeptide levels in the medium, as determined by Western immunoblot analysis. Cycloheximide at 3.6 microM decreased IGFBP-6 transcripts and prevented the stimulatory eff...