Despite years of study of the genetic and molecular bases of sphingolipid storage disorders, little is known about the events that lead from lipid accumulation to pathology.

Research over the past few years has demonstrated that sphingolipid storage can result in multiple direct or indirect effects on various cellular compartments and on biochemical pathways. This article offers a guided tour through the cellular scenes that may be of relevance to sphingolipid storage disorder pathogenesis and to the development of new therapeutic approaches.”
“Time-resolved optical emission spectroscopy (OES) is used to analyze a mesh-initiated air breakdown plasma induced by a transverse excitation atmospheric CO(2) pulsed laser (lambda = 10.591 mu m, 64 ns (full width at half maximum), 70-160 J/cm(2)). Emission from excited N, O, C, H, and Ar; ionic fragment N(+), O(+), N(2+), O(2+), C(+), and molecular band systems of Selleckchem LY294002 N(2)(+)(B (2)Sigma(+)(u)-X (2)Sigma(+)(g); D (2)Pi(g)-A (2)Pi(u)), N(2)(C (3)Pi(u)-B (3)Pi(g)), and OH(A (2)Sigma(+)-X (2)Pi) is observed. Plasma characteristics are examined in detail on the emission lines of N(+), O(+), and C by time-resolved OES technique. The

results show a faster decay of continuum and ionic spectral species than of neutral atomic and molecular ones. The velocity and kinetic energy Selleck HDAC inhibitor distributions for the different species were obtained from time-of-flight measurements. Excitation temperature and electron density in the laser-induced plasma were estimated from the analysis of spectral data at various times from selleck kinase inhibitor the laser pulse incidence. Temporal evolution of electron density has been used for the estimation of the three-body recombination rate constant. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3382914]“
“Background: This study aimed to examine clinical validity and utility of a screening measure for familial psychosocial risk, the Psychosocial Assessment Tool 2.0 (PAT2.0), among pediatric

cancer survivors participating in long-term survivorship care.

Methods: Caregivers (N = 79) completed the PAT2.0 during their child’s survivorship appointment. Caregivers also reported on family engagement in outpatient mental health treatment. Medical records were reviewed for treatment history and oncology provider initiated psychology consults.

Results: The internal consistency of the PAT2.0 total score in this survivorship sample was strong. Psychology was consulted by the oncology provider to see 53% of participant families, and families seen by psychology had significantly higher PAT2.0 total scores than families without psychology consults. PAT2.0 total scores and corresponding subscales were higher for patients, parents, and siblings enrolled in outpatient mental health services since treatment completion.