by Rene J. Duquesnoy  and Marilyn Marrari

Received: 13 December 2019;  Published: 10 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001099

Many studies have demonstrated that HLA-DR, HLA-DQ and HLA-DP matching at the eplet level reduces allograft rejection and improves transplant outcome. Such studies have examined the eplet effect for the individual class II loci, but until now little attention has been given to so-called interlocus class II eplets shared between HLA-DR, HLA-DQ and/or HLA-DP alleles. This report summarizes current information about antibody-verified interlocus class II eplets. It describes a structural modeling method to determine po [...]

by Morgan J. Minyo  and Katherine S. Judge

Received: 30 July 2019;  Published: 07 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001104

Through the assessment of previous and current literature on the behaviors experienced by persons with dementia, this review discusses the terminology, conceptual models, measurement techniques, and non-pharmacological interventions employed within behavioral research. Additionally, this review considers the illness experience and the need for more research using self-report methodology with persons with dementia in order to address the current gaps within the behaviour literature. With three main objectives, this [...]

by Anupa Pathak  , Saurab Sharma  and Mark P. Jensen

Received: 30 December 2019;  Published: 05 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001005

There is a growing body of research evaluating the effects of hypnosis for the management of clinical pain. A summary of the recent systematic review would help understand the quality of evidence regarding the efficacy of hypnosis, and provide directions for future research. We conducted a scoping review of systematic reviews and meta-analyses on the efficacy of hypnosis for management of clinical pain conditions published after 2013. We searched four databases and two reviewers independently screened studies. We e [...]

by Nour Hasan  , Ankita P. Desai  and Jignesh Dalal

Received: 12 November 2019;  Published: 04 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001098

Invasive fungal disease (IFD) is a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality in pediatric patients undergoing hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Early detection and timely initiation of antifungal therapy is important for improved outcome, but diagnosis remains difficult, especially when relying on conventional microbiology methods such as culture and microscopy. Data on the use of fungal biomarkers for screening and diagnosis of IFD in HSCT pediatric patients are limited, precluding the devel [...]

by Margaret M Esiri

Received: 27 November 2019;  Published: 04 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001103

In this article I wish to put the case for a change of emphasis in the approach to finding a prevention/treatment for Alzheimer’s disease from a focus on beta amyloid to one on tau. In particular, I make the case for aiming to prevent the spread of abnormal tau from the medial temporal lobe to widespread areas of association cortex that are anatomically linked to this critical region. I pose an analogy with cardiovascular disease in which the initiating pathology, lipid streaks, are left untreated until they are so [...]

by Maurizio Salvadori  and Aris Tsalouchos

Received: 19 January 2020;  Published: 03 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001097

Immunosuppressive therapy in renal transplantation is divided into two phases as induction and maintenance therapy. Induction therapy is an intense immunosuppressive therapy administered at the time of kidney transplantation to reduce the risk of acute allograft rejection. In general, induction immunosuppressive strategies utilized by kidney transplant centers fall in one of the two categories. One approach relies upon high doses of conventional immunosuppressive agents, while the other uses antibodies directed aga [...]

by Federica Odaldi  , Vanessa De Pace  , Giacomo Frascaroli  , Giuliana Germinario  , Giorgia Comai  , Francesco Vasuri  , Gaetano La Manna  and Matteo Ravaioli

Received: 22 November 2019;  Published: 03 February 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.transplant.2001096

Donation after circulatory death (DCD) is an increasingly used resource to alleviate chronic renal graft shortages. Organs from donors with progressively increased creatinine levels due to acute kidney injury are used, but the effects of this condition on kidney transplantation are still unclear. Ex-situ machine perfusion is emerging as a potential tool to preserve and resuscitate vulnerable grafts. We report a case of DCD kidneys discarded due to severe acute kidney injury with favorable histological Karpinski sco [...]

by Marco Minella  , Khan M.G. Mostofa  , Cong-qiang Liu  and Davide Vione

Received: 05 September 2019;  Published: 21 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.acr.2001004

Superoxide, produced photochemically as well as microbially, is an important reactant present in seawater and a major source of hydrogen peroxide. Superoxide decay may occur through catalyzed or uncatalyzed dismutation forming H2O2 and O2, through oxidation to O2, or through reduction into H2O2. Under definite circumstances, the redox processes that are different from dismutation could produce or consume H+, thereby altering the pH of seawater. In order to alter the pH, these processes have to involve, together wit [...]

by Garuth Eliot Chalfont  , Jane Simpson  , Fiona J R Eccles  and Christine Milligan

Received: 06 September 2019;  Published: 21 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001102

The urgent need for innovative approaches to dementia treatment that are acceptable, effective and affordable underlies this research. Growing evidence supports ‘integrative medicine’ as a potential treatment approach aligned with and including conventional medicine. However, success will depend on addressing barriers, recognising needs of diverse communities and involving people in co-creating desired interventions. The three aims of this study were to, 1) describe conventional allopathic medicine and integrative [...]

by Kim Lawson

Received: 05 November 2019;  Published: 20 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2001049

Fibromyalgia, characterised by persistent pain, sleep disturbance, fatigue and cognitive dysfunction, is a central sensitivity syndrome that also involves abnormality in peripheral generators and in the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. Heterogeneity of clinical expression of fibromyalgia with a multifactorial aetiology has made the development of effective therapeutic strategies challenging. Non-restorative sleep associated with poor sleep quality is a characteristic of fibromyalgia which is linked to symptom s [...]

by Julia Henderson

Received: 05 November 2019;  Published: 17 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001101

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by Michael Fossel

Received: 14 January 2020;  Published: 15 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001100

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by Joep Geraedts

Received: 13 January 2020;  Published: 14 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.genet.2001102

At the beginning of a new year it is always good to look both backwards and forwards and to highlight a few items that are relevant with respect to the long-term development of our journal. As everybody knows, the principle of open access publishing is that the authors pay fees (the article‐processing charges or APCs) to publish in the journal rather than that the readers pay subscription costs for the journal. Three years ago, OBM Genetics started as an open access journal publishing its first papers totally free [...]

by Jean Youngwerth  , Heather Coats  , Amy Jones  , Angela Wibben  , Elizabeth Somes  , Sue Felton  , Ashley Anderson  , Kathleen Flarity  , Kellar Elliot  and Jean Kutner

Received: 17 November 2019;  Published: 14 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001004

The University of Colorado Hospital (UCH) implemented a Creative Arts Therapy (CAT) program offering CAT to hospitalized patients as a component of comprehensive palliative care (PC) services. The objective of this pilot program evaluation study was to evaluate short-term effects of CAT on patient symptoms and patient/family perceptions regarding their experience. The sample included adult patients hospitalized in an academic medical center who were seen by the Palliative Care Consult Service (PCCS) between October [...]

by Yan Yang  and Gerhard Litscher

Received: 08 January 2020;  Published: 14 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001003

Acupuncture, being a unique method, is a millennia-old tradition in the field of Chinese medicine. However, it is surprising that there are very few scientific publications on acupuncture and its gender-specific effects. This article summarizes the previous work from the perspective of both Western and Eastern medicine, involving manual acupuncture, electro-acupuncture, and modern innovative laser acupuncture. There is scientific evidence that future gender-specific considerations should be included in the assessme [...]

by Satoshi Migita  and Tomoya Yamaguchi

Received: 18 September 2019;  Published: 14 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001003

The surface roughness of titanium could regulate various cellular functions such as survival and growth. In the context of cell adhesion to materials, cell spreading and cell shape are also closely linked to various cellular functions. Previously, we found that Ti substrate with a 100-nm scale surface roughness reduced cell survival. However, effects of surface roughness on cell shape were not investigated. Herein, we quantified the initial adhesion behavior of osteoblasts on a Ti substrate with ~100 nm scale surfa [...]

by Charisse Chehovich  and Tammie Lee Demler

Received: 14 October 2019;  Published: 10 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001099

Second-generation antipsychotics, have known metabolic side effects; specifically, clozapine is implicated in worsening or causing hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia and weight gain. Recently, there has been an increased interest in the safe use of clozapine in patients with diabetes. In March 2018, a 65-year-old female with a diagnosis of schizophrenia was admitted for inpatient hospitalization to a psychiatric hospital in Buffalo, NY for further stabilization after receiving two months of treatment at a comprehe [...]

by Edwin Meresh  , David Daniels  , Jack H. Owens  , David Thompson  , Sarah Mennella  , Michael Levy  and Brenda Swartz

Received: 10 November 2019;  Published: 10 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.neurobiol.2001048

Agitation is a common manifestation of acute brain injury. When not addressed, agitation can lead to slower recovery rates, including delayed admission to acute rehabilitation programs. Antipsychotics are commonly used to control agitation in acute brain injury in the ICU. However, there is no current consensus on the most "efficacious and safest strategy" for use of antipsychotics in acute TBI. Haloperidol is arguably the commonly used antipsychotic for agitation in ICU setting at present. Interestingly, there are [...]

by Jacques Muzart

Received: 10 October 2019;  Published: 08 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/acr.2001003

This article summarizes some surprising palladoreactions occurring in a transition metal environment, discovered by our team, and the proposed corresponding mechanisms.

by Dieter Rehder

Received: 18 December 2019;  Published: 08 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/acr.2001002

Vanadium is an element that is widely distributed in Earth’s crust as well as in sea-water and ground-water reservoirs. Therefore, it exerts a great influence on the issues related to life and environment. Vanadium is utilized by several marine organisms. For example, there are vanadate-dependent haloperoxidases in algae and several bacteria, e.g., Azotobacter, use it for nitrogen fixation and bacterial reduction involves the conversion of vanadate to oxidovanadium (IV). The similarity between vanadate and phosphat [...]

by Tara T. Lineweaver  , Suneeta Kercood  , Elyse B. Morgan  , Shelby L. Rampone  , Colleen C. Frank  , Scott A. McLuckie  and Mack F. Reed

Received: 27 October 2019;  Published: 07 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.icm.2001002

Past research suggests that exercise is associated with improved working memory (WM) abilities, and that athletes have better executive functioning and WM skills than non-athletes. However, no studies to date have separated the effects of exercise from the effects of athletic participation when examining WM. This study had three primary goals: (1) to determine whether amateur college athletes have better auditory and visual WM than their non-athlete peers who exercise frequently and whether non-athlete frequent exe [...]

by Deborah H. John  , Patrick Abi Nader  and Katherine Gunter

Received: 29 October 2018;  Published: 06 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001098

Physical inactivity is the fourth leading risk factor for global mortality and as such, it is critical that physical activity guidelines for health consider equitable access to physical activity opportunities for all, including those aged 65 years and older. The purpose of this study was to examine the intersections of attributes of older people (e.g. income, gender, age, health, physical activity) and attributes of the places they live (e.g. rurality, public transit, sidewalks, parks, community centre) to explain [...]

by Nikolai A. Zarkevich

Received: 30 September 2019;  Published: 06 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/jept.2001001

Most power plants produce electricity by converting a mechanical motion into alternating current (AC). Photovoltaic solar panels convert an electromagnetic flux of light into direct current (DC). In general, electric energy can be harvested from a flux in the environment or from a change of the environment itself. One can produce electricity from mechanical, chemical, thermal, electromagnetic (light), or another physical flux, or from a change of temperature, chemical composition, or a physical field: gravitationa [...]

by Fabrice Debbasch

Received: 15 October 2019;  Published: 06 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/rpm.2001002

A relativistic Wigner function for free Discrete Time Quantum Walks (DTQWs) on the square 2D space-time lattice is defined. The transport equation obeyed by the relativistic Wigner function is derived in terms of discrete derivatives and degenerates in the continuum limit into the transport equation obeyed by the Wigner function of 2D Dirac fermions. The first corrections to the continuous equation induced by the discreteness of the lattice are also determined and the similarities with non-quantum relativistic tran [...]

by Em V. Adams  , Marieke Van Puymbroeck  , Heather S. Torphy  , Brian C. Helsel  , Karen A. Kemper  , Cheryl Dye  and Arlene A. Schmid

Received: 03 October 2019;  Published: 03 January 2020;  doi: 10.21926/obm.geriatr.2001097

Falls have negative consequences for older adults, but falls can be reduced through interventions that target the reduction of fall risk factors. Cognitive behavioral education programs and therapeutic yoga are two interventions that have independently been used as a means to reduce the risk of falls. The purpose of this study was to determine if adding therapeutic yoga following an education intervention improved well known fall risk factors. Potential participants were recruited through a senior center for a 12-w [...]