Molecular characterization on the fractionation of organic phosphorus induced by iron oxide adsorption using ESI-FT-ICR MS.

The interaction between organic phosphorus (OP) and iron oxide significantly influences the phosphorus cycle in the natural environment. In shallow lakes, intense oxidation-reduction fluctuations constantly alter the existing form of iron oxides, but little is known about their impact on the adsorption and fractionation of OP molecules. In this study, electrospray ionization coupled with Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry (ESI-FT-ICR MS) was used to investigate the fractionation of OP from alkali-extracted sediment induced by crystalline goethite and amorphous ferrihydrite adsorption at a molecular scale.

Changes in sediment greenhouse gases production dynamics in an estuarine wetland following invasion by .

Invasive () has significant impacts on sediment biogeochemical cycling in the tidal wetlands of estuaries and coasts. However, the impact of exotic invasion on greenhouse gases (GHGs) production dynamics in sediments remain limited. Here, we investigated the dynamics of sediment physicochemical properties, GHGs production rates, and microbial gene abundances in a native habitat and three invasive habitats (6-, 10-, and 14-year) in the Minjiang River Estuary, China.

Discovery of Novel 5,6-Dihydro-4-pyrido[2,3,4-]quinazoline Irreversible Inhibitors Targeting Both Wild-Type and A775_G776insYVMA Mutated HER2 Kinases.

HER2 mutations were seen in 4% of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients. Most of these mutations (90%) occur as an insertion mutation within the exon 20 frame, leading to the downstream activation of the PI3K-AKT and RAS/MAPK pathways. However, no targeted therapies have yet been approved worldwide.

Occurrence and Distribution of Tetrabromobisphenol A and Diversity of Microbial Community Structure in the Sediments of Mangrove.

The occurrence and distribution characteristics of tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) and its relationship with microbial community diversity in different mangrove sediments need further investigation. The results of this study indicated levels of TBBPA in mangrove sediments from the Zhangjiang Estuary (ZJ), Jiulongjiang Estuary (JLJ), and Quanzhou Bay (QZ) in Southeast China ranging from 1.80 to 20.

Patient experience in a randomized trial of a weekly progesterone vaginal ring versus a daily progesterone gel for luteal support after in vitro fertilization.

Objective: To assess patient experience and convenience of using progesterone vaginal ring (VR) versus vaginal gel for women requiring luteal phase support during in vitro fertilization (IVF).

Design: Post hoc analysis of a prospective, randomized, single-blind, multicenter, phase 3 clinical trial.

Setting: Twenty-two U.

Alirocumab in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia undergoing lipoprotein apheresis: the ODYSSEY ESCAPE trial.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of alirocumab on frequency of standard apheresis treatments [weekly or every 2 weeks (Q2W)] in heterozygous familial hypercholesterolaemia (HeFH).

Methods And Results: ODYSSEY ESCAPE (NCT02326220) was a double-blind study in 62 HeFH patients undergoing regular weekly or Q2W lipoprotein apheresis. Patients were randomly assigned (2:1, respectively) to receive alirocumab 150 mg (n = 41) or placebo (n = 21) Q2W subcutaneously for 18 weeks.

Alirocumab in patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia undergoing lipoprotein apheresis: Rationale and design of the ODYSSEY ESCAPE trial.

Background: Many patients with heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (HeFH) fail to reach optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels with available lipid-lowering medications, including statins, and require treatment using alternative methods such as lipoprotein apheresis.

Objective: To evaluate the efficacy of alirocumab 150 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W) compared with placebo in reducing the frequency of lipoprotein apheresis treatments in patients with HeFH.

Methods: ODYSSEY ESCAPE is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, 18-week, phase 3 study being conducted in the United States and Germany.

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab vs ezetimibe in statin-intolerant patients, with a statin rechallenge arm: The ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE randomized trial.

Background: Statin intolerance limits many patients from achieving optimal low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) concentrations. Current options for such patients include using a lower but tolerated dose of a statin and adding or switching to ezetimibe or other non-statin therapies.

Methods: ODYSSEY ALTERNATIVE (NCT01709513) compared alirocumab with ezetimibe in patients at moderate to high cardiovascular risk with statin intolerance (unable to tolerate ≥2 statins, including one at the lowest approved starting dose) due to muscle symptoms.

Efficacy and safety of adding alirocumab to rosuvastatin versus adding ezetimibe or doubling the rosuvastatin dose in high cardiovascular-risk patients: The ODYSSEY OPTIONS II randomized trial.

Objective: To compare lipid-lowering efficacy of adding alirocumab to rosuvastatin versus other treatment strategies (NCT01730053).

Methods: Patients receiving baseline rosuvastatin regimens (10 or 20 mg) were randomized to: add-on alirocumab 75 mg every-2-weeks (Q2W) (1-mL subcutaneous injection via pre-filled pen); add-on ezetimibe 10 mg/day; or double-dose rosuvastatin. Patients had cardiovascular disease (CVD) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥70 mg/dL (1.

Efficacy and safety of alirocumab as add-on therapy in high-cardiovascular-risk patients with hypercholesterolemia not adequately controlled with atorvastatin (20 or 40 mg) or rosuvastatin (10 or 20 mg): design and rationale of the ODYSSEY OPTIONS Studies.

The phase 3 ODYSSEY OPTIONS studies (OPTIONS I, NCT01730040; OPTIONS II, NCT01730053) are multicenter, multinational, randomized, double-blind, active-comparator, 24-week studies evaluating the efficacy and safety of alirocumab, a fully human monoclonal antibody targeting proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9, as add-on therapy in ∼ 650 high-cardiovascular (CV)-risk patients whose low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels are ≥100 mg/dL or ≥70 mg/dL according to the CV-risk category, high and very high CV risk, respectively, with atorvastatin (20-40 mg/d) or rosuvastatin (10-20 mg/d). Patients are randomized to receive alirocumab 75 mg via a single, subcutaneous, 1-mL injection by prefilled pen every 2 weeks (Q2W) as add-on therapy to atorvastatin (20-40 mg) or rosuvastatin (10-20 mg); or to receive ezetimibe 10 mg/d as add-on therapy to statin; or to receive statin up-titration; or to switch from atorvastatin to rosuvastatin (OPTIONS I only). At week 12, based on week 8 LDL-C levels, the alirocumab dose may be increased from 75 mg to 150 mg Q2W if LDL-C levels remain ≥100 mg/dL or ≥70 mg/dL in patients with high or very high CV risk, respectively.

Effect of alirocumab, a monoclonal proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 antibody, on lipoprotein(a) concentrations (a pooled analysis of 150 mg every two weeks dosing from phase 2 trials).

Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease, with limited treatment options. This analysis evaluated the effect of a monoclonal antibody to proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9, alirocumab 150 mg every 2 weeks (Q2W), on Lp(a) levels in pooled data from 3 double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, phase 2 studies of 8 or 12 weeks' duration conducted in patients with hypercholesterolemia on background lipid-lowering therapy (NCT01266876, NCT01288469, and NCT01288443). Data were available for 102 of 108 patients who received alirocumab 150 mg Q2W and 74 of 77 patients who received placebo.

Effect of a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 on LDL cholesterol.

Background: Proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin 9 (PCSK9), one of the serine proteases, binds to low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptors, leading to their accelerated degradation and to increased LDL cholesterol levels. We report three phase 1 studies of a monoclonal antibody to PCSK9 designated as REGN727/SAR236553 (REGN727).

Methods: In healthy volunteers, we performed two randomized, single ascending-dose studies of REGN727 administered either intravenously (40 subjects) or subcutaneously (32 subjects), as compared with placebo.

Effects of a school-based intervention for urban adolescents with asthma. A controlled trial.

Rationale: Asthma prevalence and morbidity are especially elevated in adolescents, yet few interventions target this population.

Objectives: To test the efficacy of Asthma Self-Management for Adolescents (ASMA), a school-based intervention for adolescents and medical providers.

Methods: Three hundred forty-five primarily Latino/a (46%) and African American (31%) high school students (mean age = 15.

Image analysis for retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis.

Purpose: To review findings from the authors' published studies involving telemedicine and image analysis for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosis.

Methods: Twenty-two ROP experts interpreted a set of 34 wide-angle retinal images for presence of plus disease. For each image, a reference standard diagnosis was defined from expert consensus.

Parental perceptions toward digital imaging and telemedicine for retinopathy of prematurity management.

Background: Telemedicine is an emerging technology with potential to improve care for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP). This study evaluates parental perceptions about digital imaging and telemedicine for ROP care.

Methods: During a 1-year period, one parent of each infant who underwent wide-field retinal imaging for ROP was given a questionnaire designed to evaluate parental perceptions using a 5-point Likert-type scale.

Typical variations of subthalamic electrode location do not predict limb motor function improvement in Parkinson's disease.

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) is an effective treatment for patients with medically refractory Parkinson's disease (PD). The degree to which the anatomic location of the DBS electrode tip determines the improvement of contralateral limb movement function has not been defined. This retrospective study was performed to address this issue.

Retinopathy of prematurity management using single-image vs multiple-image telemedicine examinations.

Purpose: To compare performance of single-image vs multiple-image telemedicine examinations for retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosis.

Design: Prospective comparative study.

Methods: A total of 248 eyes from 67 consecutive infants underwent wide-angle retinal imaging by a trained neonatal nurse at 31 to 33 weeks and/or 35 to 37 weeks postmenstrual age (PMA) at a single academic institution.

Plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity: an analysis of diagnostic performance.

Purpose: To measure agreement and accuracy of plus disease diagnosis among retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) experts; and to compare expert performance to that of a computer-based analysis system, Retinal Image multiScale Analysis.

Methods: Twenty-two recognized ROP experts independently interpreted a set of 34 wide-angle retinal photographs for presence of plus disease. Diagnostic agreement was analyzed.

Plus disease in retinopathy of prematurity: pilot study of computer-based and expert diagnosis.

Purpose: To measure accuracy of plus disease diagnosis by recognized experts in retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), and to conduct a pilot study examining performance of a computer-based image analysis system, Retinal Image multiScale Analysis (RISA).

Methods: Twenty-two ROP experts independently interpreted a set of 34 wide-angle retinal images for presence of plus disease. A reference standard diagnosis based on expert consensus was defined for each image.

Telemedical retinopathy of prematurity diagnosis: accuracy, reliability, and image quality.

Objective: To prospectively measure accuracy, reliability, and image quality of telemedical retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) diagnosis.

Methods: Two-hundred forty-eight eyes from 67 consecutive infants underwent wide-angle retinal imaging by a trained neonatal nurse at 31 to 33 weeks' and/or 35 to 37 weeks' postmenstrual age (PMA) using a standard protocol. Data were uploaded to a Web-based telemedicine system and interpreted by 3 expert retinal specialist graders who provided a diagnosis (no ROP, mild ROP, type 2 prethreshold ROP, treatment-requiring ROP) and an evaluation of image quality for each eye.

A triglyceride/high-density lipoprotein ratio > or = 3.5 is associated with an increased burden of coronary artery disease on cardiac catheterization.

An elevated triglyceride (TG)/high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio has been described as a predictor of insulin resistance and cardiovascular events. We evaluated whether a TG/HDL ratio > or = 3.5 was associated with the burden of coronary artery disease (CAD) on cardiac catheterization.

Interexpert agreement of plus disease diagnosis in retinopathy of prematurity.

Objective: To measure agreement of plus disease diagnosis among retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) experts.

Methods: A set of 34 wide-angle retinal photographs from infants with ROP was compiled on a secure Web site and was interpreted independently by 22 recognized ROP experts. Diagnostic agreement was analyzed using 3-level (plus, pre-plus, or neither) and 2-level (plus or not plus) categorizations.