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Purpose: Cigarette smoking is an established risk factor for pancreatic cancer (PC). We examined the association between cigarette smoking and PC in a San Francisco Bay Area clinic-based, case-control study.Methods: A total of 536 cases and sex and age frequency-matched controls (n = 869) were recruited predominately from the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) medical clinics between 2006 and 2011. Participants were interviewed in-person using structured questionnaires. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were computed.Results: Forty-eight percent of cases and controls reported never having smoked cigarettes; 39% of cases and 40% of controls were former smokers; 13% of cases and 12% of controls were current smokers. No association was found for either former (OR = 0.85, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.66-1.1) or current cigarette smoking (men: OR = 1.0, 95% CI = 0.60-1.7; women: OR = 1.2, 95% CI = 0.73-2.1). No dose-response relationships were detected with number of cigarettes/day, smoking intensity, duration, or years since last smoked. Comparisons with a 1995-1999 population-based UCSF study demonstrated a significantly increased proportion of never smokers in this study (P < .001).Conclusions: This study revealed no significant associations between cigarette smoking and PC in the San Francisco Bay Area during 2006-2011. Data suggest a reduction in the duration of smoking within the referral population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article reports on research which was conducted to develop and investigate the feasibility and efficacy of a pharmacist-led, patient centered medication management program for older adults who were on at least two psychiatric medications. Researchers developed the program and tested it with patients with a mean age of 75. They found that while the program was feasible and addressed many medication management problems new problems did occur over time which called for and additional intervention.

Objective: To find ways to improve response rates of medical and health surveys. We investigated whether a prenotification letter instead of a second reminder and varying senders of the questionnaires would affect response rates. Study Design and Setting: We present the results of two studies. In the first study, four groups were compared that either received a prenotification letter (group 1 and 2) or a second reminder letter (group 3 and 4); received the questionnaire from either a research institute (group 1 and 3) or a health insurance company (HIC; group 2 and 4). In the second study, we compared two groups that received the questionnaire sent by either a HIC or a hospital. Response rates, response speed, respondent characteristics, item nonresponse, and mean scores on quality aspects and global ratings were compared. Results: Response rates did not differ significantly between groups. Prenotification groups returned their questionnaires faster. No other significant differences were found for response speed, respondent characteristics, item nonresponse, or mean scores. Conclusion: A prenotification letter does only increase initial response speed and does not increase total response rates. A prenotification letter should be considered when quick response is desirable. Varying senders had no effect on response rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To measure adherence in older adults with the use of a novel visual scale screening tool and to compare this adherence measurement with other adherence measures. Design: Noncontrolled prospective intervention trial. Setting: Geriatric psychiatry clinic in North Carolina between February 2008 and July 2009. Participants: 27 geriatric psychiatry clinic patients were identified as meeting eligibility criteria, and 26 of these participants completed the baseline and 3-and 6-month visits. Intervention: Pharmacist-provided medication management program. Main outcome measures: A novel visual scale, the Medometer, assessed patient adherence to individual medications and aggregate medication regimen. The Medometer was compared with pharmacist subjective adherence assessment and the four-item Morisky scale. Results: Aggregate regimen adherence based on the Morisky scale was 44%, 50%, and 38% at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months, respectively. Similarly it was 48%, 50%, and 46%, respectively, for the aggregate Medometer measurement. Measured individually by drug, average adherence at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months was 44%, 50%, and 35%, respectively, with the Medometer and 74%, 65%, and 50%, respectively, for the pharmacist's subjective assessment. Less stringent definitions for categorizing adherence identified a higher proportion of patients as adherent, with similar trends across measures. Individual medication and aggregate regimen adherence estimates provided face validity for the Medometer, with moderate agreement with other measures. Conclusion: The Medometer is a visual scale that cart assess individual medication and overall medication regimen adherence. It performed well in this pilot study, but additional research is needed to assess the reliability and validity of this tool in larger, diverse populations and to test the effectiveness of this tool in guiding pharmacists' efforts to improve medication outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aggregates of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides have been implicated in the etiology of Alzheimer disease. Among the different forms of Aβ aggregates, low molecular weight species ranging between ∼2- and 50-mers, also called "soluble oligomers," have emerged as the species responsible for early synaptic dysfunction and neuronal loss. Emerging evidence suggests that the neurotoxic oligomers need not be formed along the obligatory nucleation-dependant fibril formation pathway. In our earlier work, we reported the isolation of one such "off-pathway" 12–18-mer species of Aβ42 generated from fatty acids called large fatty acid-derived oligomers (LFAOs) (Kumar, A., Bullard, R. L., Patel, P., Paslay, L. C., Singh, D., Bienkiewicz, E. A., Morgan, S. E., and Rangachari, V. (2011) PLoS One 6, e18759). Here, we report the physiochemical aspects of LFAO-monomer interactions as well as LFAO-LFAO associations in the presence of interfaces. We discovered that LFAOs are a replicating strain of oligomers that recruit Aβ42 monomers and quantitatively convert them into LFAO assemblies at the expense of fibrils, a mechanism similar to prion propagation. We also found that in the presence of hexane-buffer or chloroform-buffer interfaces LFAOs are able to associate with themselves to form larger but non-fibrillar aggregates. These results further support the hypothesis that low molecular weight oligomers can be generated via non-fibril formation pathways. Furthermore, the unique replicating property of off-pathway oligomers may hold profound significance for Alzheimer disease pathology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: National estimates indicate that a low proportion of institutional and hospital-based healthcare workers obtain influenza vaccine. Information on seasonal influenza vaccination coverage in county-level public healthcare workers is lacking, including knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions regarding seasonal influenza vaccination. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to investigate the percentage of employees receiving seasonal influenza vaccination, including perceptions and attitudes of employees of 17 health agencies in a 25-county region in eastern, rural North Carolina. Methods: Prior to the H1N1 pandemic, an 18-item voluntary, self-administered survey (pen-and-paper or web-based) was provided to 1653 employees of 15 local health departments and two health jurisdictions in 25 counties of eastern North Carolina in May 2008, obtaining vaccination information for 2007–2008 influenza season. Analysis was conducted in summer 2008 and October 2009. Results: A total of 1209 respondents completed the survey (73% response proportion). Seventy-two percent of valid survey respondents voluntarily received free influenza vaccine for the 2007–2008 season. Gender, ethnicity, and ≥10 years working in public health were significantly associated with obtaining vaccine. Using logistic regression, positive significant predictors were having a vaccination last year and perceived importance of vaccine. Cost to obtain vaccination was a deterrent. The most common reason stated was to protect people (66%), while the most common reason for not receiving the vaccine was belief that the vaccine can cause illness (19%). Almost 60% of employees reported support for a mandatory seasonal influenza vaccination program at their health department. Conclusions: The percentage of county public health workers obtaining seasonal influenza vaccination is almost twice that of healthcare workers in other settings. This study provides evidence that efforts may be successful in increasing influenza vaccination coverage of healthcare workers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The effects of polymer conformation and degree of substitution on miscibility, morphology and mechanical properties of solution blended systems containing polyphenylsulfone and copolymers of phenylketone substituted p-phenylene with m-phenylene were studied. Static and dynamic light scattering studies were performed to obtain the z-average root mean square radius of gyration, second virial coefficient, weight average molecular weight and hydrodynamic radius. Solution blends of polyphenylsulfone with phenylene copolymers yielded free standing films. Blend miscibility was assessed by glass transition behavior, morphology was analyzed using atomic force microscopy and mechanical properties were measured using nanoindentation. Copolymer composition determined miscibility. Miscible blends exhibited homogeneous morphologies while immiscible blends displayed unique, heterogeneous morphologies. Polymer conformation in solution, rather than enthalpic contributions, was the primary determinant of miscibility. Successful reinforcement was achieved in blended systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Medication-related problems are prevalent in older adults, contributing to increased harm and health care costs and negatively impacting quality of care. Older adults with psychiatric disease are at an increased risk because of their underlying disease and types of medications prescribed. Efforts to improve the quality of medication use often focus on select medication-related problems, select diagnoses, or predefined quality indicators; however, such an approach fails to consider the potential for multiple coexisting problems within individuals. Objective: A pilot study was conducted to test the feasibility of a medication management program designed to improve the quality of medication use in older adults with underlying psychiatric disease. This article describes the methodology of the study and details of the intervention, and presents baseline characteristics of the study population. Methods: English-speaking psychiatry outpatients aged ≥65 years taking ≥2 drugs that are active in the central nervous system were enrolled into a medication management program, in which medication management was provided by a clinical pharmacist for 6 months. Patients were evaluated at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months. Data were collected on the patients'' demographic characteristics, health and medications, health literacy, functional status, symptoms of depression, health services utilization, quality of medication use, adherence, and patient satisfaction with the program. Results: One hundred seventy-three older adults were assessed for inclusion; 146 were not eligible, not reachable, or not interested in participating. Twenty-seven older adults were enrolled in the study, all but one of whom completed the 3- and 6-month visits. The mean (SD) age of the 27 participants was 74.7 (8.1) years; 63% were female, 74% were white, and 70% had no cognitive impairment. Conclusions: This pilot study tested the feasibility of a medication management program designed to improve the quality of medication use in older adults with underlying psychiatric disease. Findings from this study, which will be reported at a later date, will help to refine the program and subsequent testing, with the overall goal of improving the quality of medication use and health outcomes in older adults. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: To test the accuracy of five practical depression screening strategies in older adults residing in residential care/assisted living (RC/AL).Design: Cross-sectional screening study.Setting: Four RC/AL communities in North Carolina.Participants: A total of 112 residents aged > or =65 and 27 staff members involved in their care.Measurements: Direct care staff was trained in and completed the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia, modified for use by long-term care staff (CSDD-M-LTCS). They additionally responded to a one-item question "Do you believe the resident is often sad or depressed?" and the Minimum Data Set Depression Rating Scale (DRS). Residents responded directly to the Geriatric Depression Scale (15-item version; GDS-15) and the Patient Health Questionnaire, 2-item version (PHQ-2). A geriatric psychiatrist performed gold standard diagnostic interviews using the Structured Clinical Interview for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition. Sensitivities and specificities were calculated for all instruments at predetermined cutpoints.Results: Gold standard diagnoses yielded 14% prevalence of major or minor depression. The CSDD-M-LTCS and one-item screen completed by caregivers failed to significantly discriminate depressed cases. The DRS yielded high specificity (0.85) but low sensitivity (0.47). For the two resident reported measures, the PHQ-2 had a sensitivity of 0.80 and specificity of 0.71, and the GDS-15, 0.60 and 0.75, respectively.Conclusion: Measures completed by caregivers failed to adequately detect depression. Of the measures completed directly by residents, the PHQ-2 seems to have the best mix of brevity, sensitivity, and ease of administration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Exposure to ultraviolet-B (UVB) radiation is a well-established risk factor for human cutaneous malignant melanoma. Intermittent and cumulative exposures from UVB have been estimated most often by interview questionnaire. This study assessed cumulative UVB using a ground-based measurement instrument to estimate the association between UVB and melanoma. Methods: Population-based, incident cases of melanoma (n = 380) and frequency-matched controls (n = 364) residing in Connecticut at diagnosis were interviewed between 1987 and 1989 about recreational and vacation activities, sun-protection practices, occupation, and other factors. Using a residential history, regression estimates of lifetime UVB were derived from ambient measures of UVB, adjusted for intermittent exposure. Results: Cases and controls received 29% of lifetime mean UVB in the first 15 years of life. Number of days per year in recreational activity during childhood and late adulthood were associated with increased melanoma risk. When estimating lifetime UVB adjusted for intermittent exposure, melanoma risk peaked at a 5.7-fold increased risk in the ninth decile. Conclusion: Sporadic and chronic sun exposure play a role in melanoma etiology. Skin-protection practices should be encouraged across levels of sun intensity, not only in childhood but throughout adulthood. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract Background:: Many medications present special risks when used by older adults (ie, those aged ≥65 years) and are considered potentially inappropriate for this population. The Beers criteria are often used to identify such medications. Past research has documented that use of Beers drugs is common among older adults. Objective:: The aim of this work was to examine factors associated with potentially inappropriate drug use among rural community-dwelling older adults using a conceptual framework adapted from the Andersen-Newman behavioral model of health service use. Methods:: This was a population-based, cross-sectional survey. Data were collected via face-to-face home interviews between 2002 and 2004. Rural community-dwelling older adults residing in a single county in North Carolina were eligible. Potentially inappropriate drug use was operationalized using the Beers criteria. Data concerning predisposing (ie, age, sex, race, education, and marital status), enabling (ie, social support and insurance status), need (ie, disability and history of major depression, hypertension, osteoarthritis, back problems, or other comorbidities), and utilization factors (ie, number of medications used) were collected. Results:: Data were gathered from 892 people, with information on medication use available for 800. Two hundred thirteen of these 800 participants (26.6%) used ≥1 Beers drug. Compared with individuals who used no Beers drugs, those who used ≥1 Beers drug reported lower levels of social support (odds ratio [OR], 0.94; 95% CI, 0.90–0.99) and higher levels of disability (OR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.11–1.97), used more medications (OR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.01–1.13), and were more likely to have a history of major depression (OR, 1.67; 95% CI, 1.05–2.66), hypertension (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.07–2.33), osteoarthritis (OR, 1.58; 95% CI, 1.09–2.29), and back problems (OR, 1.72; 95% CI, 1.19–2.47). Conclusion:: As suggested by the Andersen-Newman model, the risk of potentially inappropriate drug use is highest among those with the greatest medication needs, as evidenced by poorer health status in this sample of rural community-dwelling older patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We examined the relationships between folate and methionine intake, serum homocysteine levels (as a biomarker for folate metabolism), and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T polymorphism genotype and risk of oral cancer in a population-based, case-control study in Puerto Rico. Structured questionnaires were used to collect information on demographic factors, usual adult diet, and tobacco and alcohol use. Oral epithelial cells and blood samples were collected from a subset of subjects. Analyses were conducted by logistic regression, adjusting for age, sex, lifetime smoking and lifetime alcohol intake, with the following numbers of cases/controls, respectively: dietary data (341/521); MTHFR genotype (148/149); and homocysteine (60/90). Although increased folate intake was associated with decreased oral cancer risk [adjusted odds ratio (OR) in highest vs. lowest quartile = 0.6, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.4, 1.0, Ptrend = 0.05)], this finding was due almost entirely to folate intake from fruit (adjusted OR = 0.4, 95% CI: 0.2, 0.6; Ptrend = 0.0001 whereas other dietary folate sources showed no clear association. Methionine intake and serum homocysteine levels were not associated with oral cancer risk. Subjects with the MTHFR C677T homozygous variant (1-1) genotype had a nonsignificantly lower risk, and risk patterns tended to differ by level of folate, methionine, alcohol intake and smoking, although the power to detect significant associations in subgroups of these variables was low. Risks for oral cancer are not folate specific; preventive recommendations for this disease should emphasize the importance of a healthy diet, including substantial intake of fruits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ABCA3 deficiency is a rare cause of neonatal respiratory failure. Biallelic complete loss of function variants lead to neonatal demise without lung transplantation, but children with partial function variants have variable outcomes. The favorable clinical course of 3 such infants presenting with respiratory distress at birth is described. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to provide insights into the associations between the Big Five personality traits, gaming motives, and time spent gaming. Nine hundred and eighty-six participants completed an online survey including socio-demographic questions, a 100-item personality test assessing the Big Five personality traits, and the Motives for Online Gaming Questionnaire. Moreover, participants provided self-reported information on their weekly time spent gaming. Playing video games for Escapism, Coping, Fantasy, and Competition motives was each associated with different Big Five personality traits. Moreover, when age, gender, personality traits, and gaming motives were included in a multiple linear regression model as predictors of time spent gaming, lower Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness, as well as more gaming for Social, Escapism, and Competition motives predicted greater time spent gaming. The results provide insights into the associations between personality traits, gaming motives, and time spent gaming. Furthermore, these findings may help understanding conditions associated with excessive gaming behaviour, such as gaming disorder. • Lower Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness predict more gaming time. • Gaming for Social, Escapism, and Competition motives predict more gaming time. • Men are more likely to spend more time gaming than women. • First study on associations of the MOGQ and Big Five personality traits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

1. Through this case study, participants will find that patient care advocacy, even at the very end of life, can yield collaborative and creative approaches in providing patient-centered care. 2. This case study demonstrates that concurrent hospice care may be the most appropriate model of end-of-life care for patients with terminal anorexia. A case study from a Midwestern academic medical center shows that advocating for concurrent hospice care for a patient with terminal anorexia may help mitigate the challenges and controversy in defining and diagnosing the condition while still acknowledging a patient's poor prognosis and patient and family need for supportive services. Severe Enduring Anorexia Nervosa (SE-AN), also known as "terminal anorexia," is a rare, but life-threatening progression of restrictive and other eating-disordered behaviors. Recently clinical characteristics of SE-AN have been proposed with ongoing debate about the appropriateness and utilization of such guidelines. Those who work in palliative care and end of life are tasked with attenuating the suffering of patients with life-limiting or terminal illnesses. That challenge is heightened when the patient's condition is uncommon or when the care team has little experience with a particular clinical context. Given the relative youth of those with SE-AN coupled with the supposition of a terminal psychiatric disorder can bring discomfort to those charged with caring for patients with SE-AN. A case report from a Midwestern academic medical center about a 20-year-old woman with SE-AN provides an example of end-of-life care for this vulnerable population that is not guideline-focused, but patient-centered. When she enrolled in hospice, the hospice organization offered to cover ongoing treatment while simultaneously providing supportive care services to her and her family. She ultimately died on hospice, but the concurrent care model offers a pathway that acknowledges the care team's concern about poor prognosis while supporting any pivot toward life-prolonging treatment and simultaneously supporting the patient and family through this difficult scenario. Models of Palliative Care Delivery / Advocacy / Policy/ Regulations [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context There are few studies that describe cardiac adverse events in patients prescribed methadone for pain management. Objectives To describe incident cardiac adverse events and risk factors for cardiac adverse events in primary care patients prescribed methadone for pain. Methods This was a retrospective, descriptive, cohort study in patients 18 years or older receiving methadone for pain management during 2010. Patients were followed for 12 months and were categorized as “chronic” or “non-chronic” methadone users. The primary outcomes were a cardiac event, at risk for an event, or neither. Patients were grouped on their outcome and were compared on risk factors and methadone monitoring. Results A total of 1246 patients were included. Thirty (2.4%), 628 (50.4%), and 588 (47.2%) patients had a cardiac event, were at risk for an event, or had neither an event nor a risk factor, respectively. Overall, the rate of QTc prolongation was 49.4% and the rate of adherence to recommended cardiac monitoring was 39.0%. Similar percentages of chronic and non-chronic users had a cardiac event ( P > 0.05). Among the patients who had a cardiac event and were at risk for an event, factors independently associated with having had an event included age (odds ratio = 1.06; 95% CI = 1.03–1.09) and a dose 100 mg/day or higher (odds ratio = 6.18; 95% CI = 1.08–35.45). Conclusion Few cardiac adverse events resulting from methadone use for pain were detected. However, a large proportion of patients were at risk for an adverse event, especially patients who were older and had received ≥100 mg/day of methadone. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effect of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on the ignition behaviour of hydrocarbon and CO2 gas mixtures is examined in both jets and confined explosions. Results from explosion tests are presented using a 201 explosion sphere and an 8 m long section of 1.04 m diameter pipeline. Experiments to assess the flame stability and ignition probability in free-jets are reported for a range of different release velocities. An empirically-based flammability factor model for free-jets is also presented and results are compared to ignition probability measurements previously reported in the literature and those resulting from the present tests. The results help to understand how CO2 changes the severity of fires and explosions resulting from hydrocarbon releases. They also demonstrate that it is possible to ignite gas mixtures when the mean concentration is outside the flammable range. This information may be useful for risk assessments of offshore platforms involved in carbon sequestration or enhanced oil recovery, or in assessing the hazards posed by poorly-inerted hydrocarbon processing plant. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Strong environmental change is associated with glacial retreat in West Antarctica. • Glacial melting increases iron supply into waters and sediments of Potter Cove. • Macroalgae species colonize the newly ice-free areas close to the glacier front. • Microbial iron reduction is intensified by macroalgae and iron oxides. • Warming will increase rates of OM remineralisation, iron reduction and CO 2 release. Colonization of newly ice-free areas by marine benthic organisms intensifies burial of macroalgae detritus in Potter Cove coastal surface sediments (Western Antarctic Peninsula). Thus, fresh and labile macroalgal detritus serves as primary organic matter (OM) source for microbial degradation. Here, we investigated the effects on post-depositional microbial iron reduction in Potter Cove using sediment incubations amended with pulverized macroalgal detritus as OM source, acetate as primary product of OM degradation and lepidocrocite as reactive iron oxide to mimic in situ conditions. Humic substances analogue anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonic acid (AQDS) was also added to some treatments to simulate potential for electron shuttling. Microbial iron reduction was promoted by macroalgae and further enhanced by up to 30-folds with AQDS. Notably, while acetate amendment alone did not stimulate iron reduction, adding macroalgae alone did. Acetate, formate, lactate, butyrate and propionate were detected as fermentation products from macroalgae degradation. By combining 16S rRNA gene sequencing and RNA stable isotope probing, we reconstructed the potential microbial food chain from macroalgae degraders to iron reducers. Psychromonas , Marinifilum , Moritella , and Colwellia were detected as potential fermenters of macroalgae and fermentation products such as lactate. Members of class deltaproteobacteria including Sva1033, Desulfuromonas , and Desulfuromusa together with Arcobacter (former phylum Epsilonbacteraeota, now Campylobacterota) acted as dissimilatory iron reducers. Our findings demonstrate that increasing burial of macroalgal detritus in an Antarctic fjord affected by glacier retreat intensifies early diagenetic processes such as iron reduction. Under scenarios of global warming, the active microbial populations identified above will expand their environmental function, facilitate OM remineralisation, and contribute to an increased release of iron and CO 2 from sediments. Such indirect consequences of glacial retreat are often overlooked but might, on a regional scale, be relevant for the assessment of future nutrient and carbon fluxes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global climate change, demographic change and advancing mechanization of everyday life will go along with new ways of living. Temperature extremes, an ageing society and higher demands on a comfortable life will lead to the implementation of sensor based networks in order to create acceptable and improved living conditions. Originally, the idea of the smart home served primarily the efficient use of energy and the optimization of ventilation technology connected with new ways of constructing buildings (low-energy and passive houses, respectively). Today the term 'smart home' is also linked with the networking of home automation systems, home appliances and communications and entertainment electronics. Living in a smart home often makes also significant demands on the occupants who are required to drastically change some of their living habits. This review summarizes current findings on the effect of measured environmental parameters on indoor air quality, individual thermal comfort and living behavior in smart homes with focus on central Europe. A critical evaluation of available sensor technologies, their application in homes and data security aspects as well as limits and possibilities of current technologies to control particles and gaseous pollutants indoors is included. The review also considers the acceptance of smart technologies by occupants in terms of living habits, perceived indoor air quality and data security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common adverse event after hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). AKI is associated with early death or chronic kidney disease among transplant survivors. However, large-scale pediatric studies based on standardized criteria are lacking. We performed a retrospective analysis of 1057 pediatric patients who received allogeneic HCT to evaluate the incidence and risk factors of AKI according to AKI Network criteria within the first 100 days of HCT. We also determined the effect of AKI on patient survival. The 100-day cumulative incidences of all stages of AKI, stage 3 AKI, and AKI requiring renal replacement therapy (RRT) were 68.2% ± 1.4%, 25.0% ± 1.3%, and 7.6% ± .8%, respectively. Overall survival at 1 year was not different between patients without AKI and those with stage 1 or 2 AKI (66.1% versus 73.4% versus 63.9%, respectively) but was significantly different between patients without AKI and patients with stage 3 AKI with or without RRT requirement (66.1% versus 47.3% versus 7.5%, respectively; P  < .001). Age, year of transplantation, donor type, sinusoidal obstruction syndrome (SOS), and acute graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) were independent risk factors for stages 1 through 3 AKI. Age, donor, conditioning regimen, number of HCTs, SOS, and acute GVHD were independent risk factors for AKI requiring RRT. Our study revealed that AKI was a prevalent adverse event, and severe stage 3 AKI, which was associated with reduced survival, was common after pediatric allogeneic HCT. All patients receiving allogeneic HCT, especially those with multiple risk factors, require careful renal monitoring according to standardized criteria to minimize nephrotoxic insults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Self-reported household pesticide use has been associated with higher risk of childhood leukemia in a number of case-control studies. The aim of this study is to assess the reliability of self-reported household use of pesticides and potential differences in reliability by case-control status, and by socio-demographic characteristics.Methods: Analyses are based on a subset of the Northern California Childhood Leukemia Study population. Eligible households included those with children less than 8 years old who lived in the same residence since diagnosis (reference date for controls). The reliability was based on two repeated in-person interviews. Kappa, percent positive and negative agreements were used to assess reliability of responses to ever/never use of six pesticides categories.Results: Kappa statistics ranged from 0.31 to 0.61 (fair to substantial agreement), with 9 out of the 12 tests indicating moderate agreement. The percent positive agreement ranged from 46 to 80% and the percent negative agreement from 54 to 95%. Reliability for all pesticide types as assessed by the three reliability measures did not differ significantly for cases and controls as confirmed by bootstrap analysis. For most pesticide types, Kappa and percent positive agreement were higher for non-Hispanics than Hispanics and for households with higher income vs. lower income.Conclusions: Reproducibility of maternal-reported pesticide use was moderate to high and was similar among cases and controls suggesting that differential recall is not likely to be a major source of bias. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]