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Published Observations (published + observation)
Selected AbstractsRole of anti-tumour necrosis factor-, therapeutic agents in the emergence of infectionsCLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY AND INFECTION, Issue 12 2006M. P. Moiton Abstract There is increasing interest concerning the possible impact of anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-, therapeutic agents on the emergence of infections. However, these agents do not seem to increase the incidence of adverse infectious events significantly. Published observations concern mostly infections of the urinary and upper respiratory tracts that develop in the setting of co-morbidities, such as anterior or concomitant immunosuppressive treatment. Infliximab appears to increase the risk of tuberculosis, but this effect has not been observed with other anti-TNF-, agents. To better characterise the adverse infectious effects associated with these agents, physicians should be encouraged to notify the microbiological data relating to all cases. [source] Jaw tremor: Prevalence and clinical correlates in three essential tremor case samplesMOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 11 2006Elan D. Louis MS Abstract The spectrum of involuntary movements seen in essential tremor (ET) is limited. Jaw tremor is one such movement. The prevalence and clinical correlates of jaw tremor have not been studied in detail. The objective of this study was to estimate the prevalence and examine the clinical correlates of jaw tremor in ET using ET cases from three distinct settings (population, tertiary-referral center, brain repository). All ET cases underwent a videotaped tremor examination in which tremors (including limb, head, voice, and jaw) were assessed. The prevalence [95% confidence interval (CI)] of jaw tremor was lowest in the population sample (7.5%; 3.9%,14.2%), intermediate in the tertiary-referral center (10.1%; 6.8%,14.7%), and highest in the brain repository (18.0%; 12.3%,25.5%; P = 0.03). Jaw tremor was associated with older age (P < 0.001), more severe action tremor of the arms (P < 0.001), and presence of head and voice tremor (P < 0.001). Jaw tremor was present in 4/14 (28.6%) ET cases with consistent rest tremor vs. 15/193 (7.8%) cases without rest tremor (odds ratio = 4.8; 95% CI = 1.3,7.0; P = 0.009). The prevalence of jaw tremor was 7.5% to 18.0% and was dependent on the mode of ascertainment, being least prevalent in a population-based sample. ET cases with jaw tremor had a more clinically severe and more topographically widespread disorder. The association in our study between jaw tremor and rest tremor, along with the published observation that jaw tremor can occur in Parkinson's disease (PD), raises the question whether jaw tremor in ET is a marker for subsequent conversion to PD. © 2006 Movement Disorder Society [source] Fetal bilateral renal agenesis, phocomelia, and single umbilical artery associated with cocaine abuse in early pregnancyBIRTH DEFECTS RESEARCH, Issue 11 2003Maki Kashiwagi BACKGROUND Maternal cocaine abuse in pregnancy is associated with complications such as intrauterine growth retardation, abruptio placentae, and preterm delivery. CASE We report what is, to our knowledge, the first published observation of fetal bilateral renal agenesis associated with a vascular disruption syndrome comprising upper limb reduction defect and a single umbilical artery following maternal cocaine abuse in early pregnancy. CONCLUSIONS This constellation in a fetus aborted at 18 weeks extends the spectrum of complications possibly associated with cocaine abuse in pregnancy. Birth Defects Research (Part A), 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] High speed sliding of axonemal microtubules produced by outer arm dyneinCYTOSKELETON, Issue 2 2005Raviraja N. Seetharam Abstract To study dynein arm activity at high temporal resolution, axonemal sliding was measured field by field for wild type and dynein arm mutants of Tetrahymena thermophila. For wt SB255 cells, when the rate of data acquisition was 60 fps, about 5× greater than previously published observations, sliding was observed to be discontinuous with very high velocity sliding (average 196 ,m/sec) for a few msec (1 or 2 fields) followed by a pause of several fields. The sliding velocities measured were an order of magnitude greater than rates previously measured by video analysis. However, when the data were analyzed at 12 fps for the same axonemes, consistent with previous observations, sliding was linear as the axonemes extended several times their original length with an average velocity of ,10 ,m/sec. The pauses or stops occurred at approximately 200 and 300% of the initial length, suggesting that dynein arms on one axonemal doublet were initially active to the limit of extension, and then the arms on the next doublet became activated. In contrast, in a mutant where OADs are missing, sliding observed at 60 fps was continuous and slow (5 ,m/sec), as opposed to the discontinuous high-velocity sliding of SB255 and of the mutant at the permissive temperature where OADs are present. High-velocity step-wise sliding was also present in axonemes from an inner arm dynein mutant (KO6). These results indicate that the high-speed discontinuous pattern of sliding is produced by the mechanochemical activity of outer arm dynein. The rate of sliding is consistent with a low duty ratio of the outer arm dynein and with the operation of each arm along a doublet once per beat. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 60:96,103, 2005. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Observational studies of early-type binary stars: VV OrionisMONTHLY NOTICES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY, Issue 2 2007Dirk Terrell ABSTRACT New and previously published observations of the bright eclipsing binary VV Orionis are analyzed. We present new radial velocities and interstellar reddening measurements from high-resolution spectra of this detached, short-period (P= 1.48 d) binary. We discuss the validity of prior claims for the existence of a third body and show that our new velocities and light-curve solution cast doubt on them. The components of VV Ori are shown to be a B1 V primary with a mass M1= 10.9 ± 0.1 M, and a radius R1= 4.98 ± 0.02 R, and a B4.5 V secondary with a mass M2= 4.09 ± 0.05 M, and a radius R2= 2.41 ± 0.01 R,. [source] Histomorphometry of brain tumoursNEUROPATHOLOGY & APPLIED NEUROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2004R. Nafe In this review, the results of previous histomorphometric studies of brain tumours are summarized and discussed with respect to their potential value for diagnostic purposes and for tumour research. In the majority of these studies, human gliomas were investigated. In a few studies, human meningiomas and other human or experimental tumour types were investigated. A computerized image analysis system was used for the morphometric analyses in most studies. The three main histologic structures examined were tumour cell nuclei, nucleolar organizer regions and tumour vessels. The current state of knowledge provides evidence that a diagnostic benefit could be provided by histomorphometric investigations of brain tumours, especially for grading of gliomas and with respect to independent prognostic information. Additional studies are necessary to delineate the spectrum of histomorphometric parameters and the investigation of their prognostic significance for cases with the same tumour type and tumour grade. Together with many recently published observations in this field, this review shows that histomorphometry is an important approach towards the investigation of brain tumour biology. [source] Phosphorus sources and availability modify growth and distribution of root clusters and nodules of native Australian legumesPLANT CELL & ENVIRONMENT, Issue 7 2002M. A. Adams Abstract A variety of native Western Australian legumes produced root clusters in sand culture confirming field and published observations. In general, these legumes grew equally well when supplied with organic or inorganic sources of phosphorus. The nitrogen content of shoots and roots varied little among treatments for all species, however, phosphorus content was always greater in plants supplied with inositol-P. The plasticity of root growth in response to localized placement of organic and inorganic sources of phosphorus was demonstrated using a simple ,split root' technique. Total root dry weight was, on average, more than doubled in P-amended sand when compared with non-amended sand. Root clusters tended to be produced in areas of relatively high phosphorus concentration and nodules in areas of low phosphorus concentration. Levels of phosphorus in lateral roots grown in P-amended sand were significantly different from lateral roots grown in the corresponding non-amended sand. Growth increases averaging 70% for white sand to over 100% for yellow sand indicated a large degree of ,plasticity' in roots under conditions of heterogeneous supply of phosphorus. Spatially exclusive development of organs for the acquisition of nutrients is discussed in relation to requirements for carbon in organ production and maintenance. [source] Complex regulation of choroidal blood flow during combined changes in blood pressure and IOPACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009L SCHMETTERER Purpose In the recent years it has been shown that the human choroid shows some regulatory capacity during an artifical increase in intraocular pressure (IOP) as well as during an exercise induced increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP). The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that human choroidal blood flow (ChBF) may depend, not only on ocular perfusion pressure (OPP), but also on absolute levels of MAP and IOP. Methods In a clinical study in 28 helathy subjects OPP was varied by elevating IOP during a squatting-induced increase in MAP. IOP was raised in stepwise increments by using the suction cup method. Subfoveal choroidal blood flow (VhBF, laser Doppler flowmetry), MAP, and IOP were assessed, and OPP was calculated as (2/3)(MAP - IOP). For correlation analysis, data from all subjects were pooled according to IOP and MAP values, and correlation analyses were performed. Results When data were grouped according to IOP, no correlation was observed between ChBF and MAP; but ChBFs were lower, the higher the IOP (P < 0.001). When data were grouped according to MAP, a significant correlation was found between ChBF and IOP (P < 0.001), but correlations were independent of MAP. Conclusion These data confirm previously published observations that the choroid shows some regulatory capacity during changes in OPP. In addition, the data indicate that the choroid regulates its blood flow better during exercise-induced changes in MAP than during an experimental increase in IOP. [source] | |||||||||||||