University of Southern California

About: University of Southern California is a education organization based out in Los Angeles, California, United States. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Poison control. The organization has 73160 authors who have published 169955 publications receiving 7838906 citations. The organization is also known as: USC & University of Southern CA.

Association of cardiovascular biomarkers with incident heart failure with preserved and reduced ejection fraction

Abstract: Importance Nearly half of all patients with heart failure have preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) as opposed to reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), yet associations of biomarkers with future heart failure subtype are incompletely understood. Objective To evaluate the associations of 12 cardiovascular biomarkers with incident HFpEF vs HFrEF among adults from the general population. Design, Setting, and Participants This study included 4 longitudinal community-based cohorts: the Cardiovascular Health Study (1989-1990; 1992-1993 for supplemental African-American cohort), the Framingham Heart Study (1995-1998), the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (2000-2002), and the Prevention of Renal and Vascular End-stage Disease study (1997-1998). Each cohort had prospective ascertainment of incident HFpEF and HFrEF. Data analysis was performed from June 25, 2015, to November 9, 2017. Exposures The following biomarkers were examined: N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide or brain natriuretic peptide, high-sensitivity troponin T or I, C-reactive protein (CRP), urinary albumin to creatinine ratio (UACR), renin to aldosterone ratio, D-dimer, fibrinogen, soluble suppressor of tumorigenicity, galectin-3, cystatin C, plasminogen activator inhibitor 1, and interleukin 6. Main Outcomes and Measures Development of incident HFpEF and incident HFrEF. Results Among the 22 756 participants in these 4 cohorts (12 087 women and 10 669 men; mean [SD] age, 60 [13] years) in the study, during a median follow-up of 12 years, 633 participants developed incident HFpEF, and 841 developed HFrEF. In models adjusted for clinical risk factors of heart failure, 2 biomarkers were significantly associated with incident HFpEF: UACR (hazard ratio [HR], 1.33; 95% CI, 1.20-1.48; P P P = .008), plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (HR, 1.22; 95% CI, 1.03-1.45; P = .02), and fibrinogen (HR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.03-1.22; P = .01). By contrast, 6 biomarkers were associated with incident HFrEF: natriuretic peptides (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.41-1.68; P P P P P P Conclusions and Relevance Biomarkers of renal dysfunction, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation were associated with incident HFrEF. By contrast, only natriuretic peptides and UACR were associated with HFpEF. These findings highlight the need for future studies focused on identifying novel biomarkers of the risk of HFpEF.

Me and us: differential relationships among goal‐setting training, efficacy and effectiveness at the individual and team level

Abstract: Efficacy-effectiveness relationships were examined for individual nurses and nursing teams who were either trained or untrained in goal-setting. At the individual level, positive direct relationships were demonstrated between self-efficacy and effectiveness, between training and subsequent self-efficacy, and between training and effectiveness. Initial self-efficacy also moderated the training-effectiveness relationship. Nurses low in initial self-efficacy realized greater effectiveness gains from the training than did nurses high in initial self-efficacy. At the team level, group efficacy was related to effectiveness, and training was related to subsequent group efficacy, but training was not related to effectiveness, and there were no moderation effects for initial group efficacy. Collective cognition and behavioral plasticity are potential explanations for different effects at the individual and team level and avenues for theory development and future research. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

A method for genetic modification of human embryonic stem cells using electroporation.

Abstract: The ability to genetically modify human embryonic stem cells (HESCs) will be critical for their widespread use as a tool for understanding fundamental aspects of human biology and pathology and for their development as a platform for pharmaceutical discovery. Here, we describe a method for the genetic modification of HESCs using electroporation, the preferred method for introduction of DNA into cells in which the desired outcome is gene targeting. This report provides methods for cell amplification, electroporation, colony selection and screening. The protocol we describe has been tested on four different HESC lines, and takes approximately 4 weeks from electroporation to PCR screening of G418-resistant clones.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy: Amelioration of Pain With Transcutaneous Electrostimulation

Abstract: OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of transcutaneous electrotherapy for chronic painful peripheral neuropathy in patients with type 2 diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Thirty-one patients with symptoms and signs of peripheral neuropathy were randomized to the electrotherapy or sham treatment (control) group. The electrostimulation was given by a portable unit (H-Wave machine) than generated a biphasic, exponentially decaying waveform (pulse width 4 ms, 25–35 V, ≥ 2 Hz). Patients treated each of their lower extremities for 30 min daily for 4 weeks at home. Nine patients from the sham-treatment group participated for a second period, during which all of them received the active electrotherapy. Patient9s degree of pain and discomfort was graded on a scale of 0 to 5. RESULTS In the sham-treated group ( n = 13), the neuropathic symptoms improved in five (38%) patients, and the pain score declined from 2.92 ± 0.13 to 2.38 ± 0.26 ( P n = 18), symptomatic improvement was seen in 15 (83%) cases, 3 of which were completely asymptomatic; the pain score declined from 3.17 ± 0.12 to 1.44 ± 0.25 ( P P P P CONCLUSIONS A form of transcutaneous electrotherapy ameliorated the pain and discomfort associated with peripheral neuropathy. This novel modality offers a potential non-pharmacological treatment option.