by Ameya Patil  , William E Sweeney  and Ellis D. Avner

Received: 07 August 2018;  Published: 23 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804056

Renal cysts are present in a wide variety of hereditary renal diseases in children. The term polycystic kidney disease (PKD) refers to two specific hereditary diseases, distinguished by the usual age of onset and genetic cause: autosomal recessive polycystic kidney disease/congenital hepatic fibrosis (ARPKD/CHF, MIM *606702) and autosomal dominant polycystic disease (ADPKD-OMIM *601313 and OMIM *173910). ARPKD/CHF is characterized by cystic dilations of the renal collecting ducts and developmental defects of biliar [...]

by Andrew Hede

Received: 27 July 2018;  Published: 23 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804037

Background: Meditation has developed over many centuries within a diverse range of religious traditions including Middle-Eastern, Indian, and East-Asian. Of these, mindfulness meditation from the Buddhist (Indian) tradition, has been the most extensively adopted in the Western secular world primarily with applications in health and well-being as pioneered by Jon Kabat-Zinn. Review: While originally developed to treat chronic pain and stress in the U.S., mindfulness training was later coupled with cognitive-behavior [...]

by Peta Stapleton  , Ulf Sandstrom  and Gunilla Hamne

Received: 12 September 2018;  Published: 22 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804036

Background: This pilot trial investigated whether a 3-week self-help model for stress reduction using the Trauma Tapping Technique (TTT) would impact traumatized youth in the Democratic Republic of the Congo on post-traumatic stress symptoms and general happiness. It also focussed on the acceptability of the program to recipients and implementation in a community with complex trauma and conflict. Methods: The study involved 77 youth who received a TTT 3-week model of intervention (self-applied). Post traumatic stre [...]

by Julianna Holzer  , John Wu  , Yi He  , Mingyang Ma  , Yuan Xing  , Jose Oberholzer  and Yong Wang

Received: 08 November 2018;  Published: 21 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804034

In this review, we discuss the application of microfluidic devices in studying the physiology and pathophysiology of human islets and beta-cells, especially its application for human islet transplantation. Human islet transplantation is a promising therapy for Type I diabetes; however, the islet transplant outcomes for achieving complete insulin independence are far from perfect and face many challenges. This review focuses on the microfluidic devices developed in our laboratory, which can address these challenges [...]

by Taylor Lawrence  and Therese M. Murphy

Received: 29 October 2018;  Published: 19 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804055

Telomeres are TTAGGG repeats located at the end of chromosomes that maintain DNA stability. Telomere length (TL) has been widely implicated as a marker of biological age, and is associated with several human diseases, including depression, cardiovascular disease and cancer. Twin studies and cohort studies estimate heritability of TL between 78-82%. Moreover, several genomic loci which influence TL have been identified. Despite the success of genetic studies in furthering our understanding of telomere biology, ident [...]

by James David Adams

Received: 14 January 2018;  Published: 19 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804035

Background: This study presents several case reports of chronic pain patients treated with two different plant medicines from the Chumash Indian tradition. Methods: Patients suffering from self-reported fibromyalgia, chronic back pain, chronic bursitis, chronic tendinitis and other conditions were treated. California sagebrush (Artemisia californica) was grown by the author and made into a liniment. The liniment was applied to painful sites on the skin. Black sage (Salvia mellifera) was made into a sun tea. Chronic [...]

by Victoria Lorenzetti  , Elena Bargagli  , Antonella Fossi  , David Bennett  , Paolo Cameli  and Paola Rottoli

Received: 30 August 2018;  Published: 18 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804033

Background: Alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT) deficiency is the most common hereditary disorder in adults and is associated with an increased risk of developing lung emphysema. Methods:Here, we report the case of a 54-year-old man, who underwent bilateral lung transplantation due to AAT deficiency emphysema in the general hospital of Siena, Italy. Results:The patient was diagnosed with partial AAT deficiency (189 mg/dL) associated with the PIMZ genotype; although he quit smoking, his lung disease progressed to chronic resp [...]

by Lauren Ferguson  , Justin Cantrelle  and Paul Loprinzi

Received: 06 September 2018;  Published: 17 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804034

Background: The present study evaluates the effects of selective directed forgetting (SDF) and directed forgetting (DF) on subsequent memory retrieval and investigate whether acute exercise can facilitate the effects of SDF. Methods: A four-arm (n=20 per group; N=80; Mage=20 yrs), parallel-group, randomized controlled experiment was employed. The four groups included: 1) exercise plus SDF (Ex+SDF), 2) SDF only (SDF), 3) DF only (DF) and 4) R (remember) only (R). Participants viewed two separate word lists (list 1 a [...]

by Megan A. Roney  , Pat L. Sample  , Lorann Stallones  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 04 November 2018;  Published: 16 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804033

Background: An adapted yoga intervention was delivered to seven individuals with chronic traumatic brain injury. The purpose of this study was to explore and describe the participants' experience of engaging in the 8-week intervention. Methods: Using a phenomenological design, data were collected, analyzed, and coded to generate themes regarding experiences that occurred, how experiences occurred, and why experiences occurred. Results: Participants described experiencing the yoga intervention as a process: from ini [...]

by Melissa A. Maloney  , Katherine E. Lewinter  , Sally L. Davidson Ward  and Iris A. Perez

Received: 13 November 2018;  Published: 16 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.1804017

Sleep complaints are common in pediatric patients with central nervous system (CNS) tumors. These problems may result from disruption of normal homeostatic, circadian, neuroendocrine, and cardiorespiratory pathways and vary by tumor location and treatment received. Children with tumors within the hypothalamus and surrounding regions are prone to excessive daytime sleepiness. Sleep-related breathing disorders, especially those involving abnormal control of breathing, may occur in patients with tumors of the brainste [...]

by Cristina Bagacean  , Anne Bordron  , Tempescul Adrian  , Jean Christophe Ianotto  , Gaelle Guillerm  , Wesley H Brooks  , Marie-Anne Couturier  , Mihnea Zdrenghea  , Christian Berthou  and Yves Renaudineau

Received: 05 June 2018;  Published: 14 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804054

Epigenetic dysregulation is present in both myeloid and lymphoid disorders, with important differences reported between myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS)/acute myeloid leukemia (AML), on one hand, and chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), on the other. Qualitative differences are reported in MDS/AML with gene fusions (e.g. TET1/LCX) and somatic mutations in epigenetic regulators (e.g. DNMT3A, TET2, IDH1/2), while differences in CLL are predominantly quantitative (e.g. DNMT3A, TET2). Indeed, and as supported by studies [...]

by Zaid Albayati  , Sally Heyworth  , Jane Moberly  , Derek Middleton  , Brian Flanagan  , Abdul Hammad  and Stephen E Christmas

Received: 10 October 2018;  Published: 14 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804032

Background:HLA-G is an immunosuppressive molecule with a potential role in allograft acceptance. Methods:Expression of HLA-G on leucocyte subpopulations was studied in a group of 21 renal transplant patients immediately prior to and 2 months post-transplantation. Results:Significant increases in proportions of total HLA-G+CD4+ T cells were seen (0.5+/-0.1% to 7.9+/-3.2%; p<0.01) and also for CD45RA+, CD45RO+ and CD69+ subsets. Increases in proportions of HLA-G+ cells were also seen in CD8+ T cells and their [...]

by James S. Powers  , Barbara Clinton  , Kayse Martin  , Margaret A. Genendlis  and Grace S. Smith

Received: 26 October 2018;  Published: 13 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804024

Background: The majority of long-term care provided to older adults and persons with disabilities is provided by unpaid family caregivers and friends. Employers have a stake in long-term care services as well since 60% of caregivers are employed outside the home, 49% have gone in late, left early, or taken time off during the day to deal with caregiving issues, and 15% have taken a prolonged leave of absence. Additionally, 87% of employed caregivers make telephone calls for caregiving from work. Presenteeism, the s [...]

by Yi-nan Guo  , Michael Grzelak  and Byoung Chol Oh

Received: 10 October 2018;  Published: 13 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804031

One of the major hurdles still facing the field of transplantation is the management of immunosuppression and the morbidity that results from treatment. Due to toxicity and complications from a maintenance immunosuppression therapies, a necessary improvement in post-transplant immunosuppressive therapies must be the development of a low-side effect therapy. Cell-based therapies as an emerging candidate offer a novel approach to generating graft tolerance, and when utilized within a combination therapeutic strategy, [...]

by Shili Lin  and Hengrui Luo

Received: 23 May 2018;  Published: 10 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804053

DNA methylation is an epigenetic change that is not only important in normal cell development, but also plays a significant role in human health and disease. Therefore, studies of DNA methylation have been actively pursued to clarify the precise role of this modification in disease etiology and its potential as a biomarker of disease. One key issue in analyzing DNA methylation data is the detection of significant differences in methylation levels between diseased individuals and healthy controls. In recent years, m [...]

by Walter Hughes

Received: 12 September 2018;  Published: 06 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804052

My experiences with the identification and development of the anti-Pneumocystis drugs trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, dapsone and atovaquone are recounted. Attention is drawn to certain often-overlooked aspects of these drugs, including their concomitant effects against infections other than Pneumocystis, matters of dosing and adverse effects. During the past four decades several million people worldwide received chemoprophylaxis and treatment with these drugs for Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia. The population of [...]

by Lisa M. Manderino  , Mary Beth Spitznagel  , Divya Yogi-Morren  , John P. Kirwan  , Sangeeta Kashyap  and John Gunstad

Received: 01 August 2018;  Published: 05 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804023

Background: Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome are linked to pathological changes in the brain and increased likelihood of cognitive impairment. 25-hydroxyvitamin D insufficiency is commonly found in this population and is associated with cognitive dysfunction in other patient groups. This preliminary study sought to examine whether 25-hydroxyvitamin D levels are is associated with cognitive deficits in this population. Methods: Twenty individuals with T2DM and metabolic syndrome (n = 20, aged 45 to 72) [...]

by Silvia Martini  , Ezio David  , Francesco Tandoi  , Dominic Dell Olio  , Antonio Amoroso  , Mauro Salizzoni  , Giorgio Maria Saracco  and Renato Romagnoli

Received: 27 September 2018;  Published: 04 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804030

Background: We performed a liver transplant (LT) with a graft from a 52-year-old donor of blood group O who was HCV viremic. The recipient was a 52-year-old male with blood group A, HCV-related cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Methods: A liver biopsy performed on post-LT day 9 revealed acute T-cell-mediated rejection and the patient received three 1.0-g boluses of methylprednisolone. On day 9, the hemoglobin level dropped and the direct antiglobulin test became positive. Passenger lymphocyte syndrome (PLS) w [...]

by Nicole Thibodeaux  and Matt J. Rossano

Received: 16 July 2018;  Published: 02 December 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804032

As alternative forms of medicine have become increasingly popular, research on the health benefits of meditation has grown. Specifically, Mindfulness Meditation, Transcendental Meditation, and Qigong have been shown to be effective in treating psychological disorders, enhancing immune function, and in delaying disease progression in patients diagnosed with HIV, the varicella-zoster virus, and dermatomyositis. This paper briefly reviews the historical background of the many forms of meditation and examines in detail [...]

by Michael Y. Shino  , Ariss Derhovanessian  , David M. Sayah  , Rajan Saggar  , Ying Ying Xue  , Abbas Ardehali  , Barry R. Stripp  , David J. Ross  , Joseph P. Lynch  , Robert M. Elashoff  , S. Samuel Weigt  and John A. Belperio

Received: 11 September 2018;  Published: 30 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804029

Background: The long term clinical significance of respiratory infections after lung transplantation remains uncertain. Methods: In this retrospective single-center cohort study of 441 lung transplant recipients, we formally evaluate the association between respiratory infection and chronic lung allograft dysfunction (CLAD). We furthermore hypothesized that bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) CXCL9 concentrations are augmented during respiratory infections, and that episodes of infection with elevated BALF CXCL9 ar [...]

by Terence Seedsman  and Nilufer Korkmaz-Yaylagul

Received: 17 July 2018;  Published: 28 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804022

With rapidly aging populations worldwide there will be an increasing need to focus attention on the expected increase in disability with advancing age. Drawing upon established literature this paper aims to highlight the contribution of anthropology including selected research findings and contemporary understandings surrounding ageism, abuse and exploitation of older disabled persons. Health care providers within the context of the aged care sector are challenged to unburden themselves with negative images and pra [...]

by Laura A. Huppert  , Marie Sinclair  and Jennifer C. Lai

Received: 08 November 2018;  Published: 28 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.1804028

Background: Patients with cirrhosis suffer not only from commonly-diagnosed portal hypertensive complications such as ascites and hepatic encephalopathy but also from more insidious effects of chronic liver failure including muscle wasting, under-nutrition, and functional decline. These manifestations of physical frailty have been demonstrated to predict mortality in patients with cirrhosis independently of liver disease severity, but objective biomarkers associated with physical frailty in cirrhosis are needed. Th [...]

by Katarina Mark  and Maria Arman

Received: 09 June 2018;  Published: 27 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.1804031

Background: People suffering from multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly use complementary and alternative medicine due to the partial efficacy of conventional treatments, the chronic aspect of MS, the impact of pain and the side-effects of medication. An exploratory descriptive study of three cases was performed to document and analyse the experience patients treated for MS with applied kinesiology. Methods: Qualitative interviews were conducted with three patients who had been diagnosed with MS at the Neurology Departm [...]

by Yoram Barak  and Paul Glue

Received: 04 October 2018;  Published: 26 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.1804021

Patients with AD have shortened life expectancy than the general older population is well established. Loneliness may be another risk factor to consider if we wish to understand and improve the premature mortality of AD.

by Rositsa Hristova  , Dimka Georgieva  , Albena Staynova  and Valeria Hadjidekova

Received: 14 August 2018;  Published: 25 November 2018;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.1804051

Background: A radiation accident occurred on 14 June 2011 in an industrial facility in Bulgaria with a cobalt source (137 TBq) that was used to sterilize equipment. Five people received doses exceeding 1Gy, which led to the development of acute radiation syndrome. Biological dosimetry based on dicentric analysis was performed and the average acute whole-body doses estimated for the five patients ranged from 1.2 to 5.6 Gy. The purpose of this study was to evaluate induced chromosome aberrations in vivo four months af [...]