			Home About us Contact

Same Day (same + day)

Distribution by Scientific Domains

Medical Sciences	65%
Life Sciences	28%
4 Other Domains	7%

Distribution within Medical Sciences

Cardiovascular Disease	9%
Allergy & Clinical Immunology	6%
Infectious Disease & Microbiology	4%
22 Other Subdomains	59%

Selected Abstracts

Epilepsy Can Be Diagnosed When the First Two Seizures Occur on the Same Day

EPILEPSIA, Issue 9 2000
Peter Camfield
Summary: Purpose: Experts have suggested that when the first two (or more) unprovoked seizures occur on the same day, they should be considered as a single event and the diagnosis of epilepsy await a further seizure. We have studied the subsequent clinical course of children with their first two seizures on the same day ("same day" group) compared with children with their first two seizures separated by more than one day ("different day" group). Method: The Nova Scotia childhood epilepsy database documented all newly diagnosed children with epilepsy from 1977 to 1985 with follow-up in 1990 and 1991. Epilepsy was defined as two or more unprovoked seizures regardless of the interval between seizures provided that consciousness fully returned between seizures. All patients had their first seizure between the ages of 1 month and 16 years. Seizure types were restricted to partial, generalized tonic-clonic, and partial with secondary generalization. Results: Of the 490 children with partial or generalized tonic-clonic seizures and follow-up of more than 2 years, 70 had their first two or more seizures on the same day and 420 had their first two seizures on different days. Eighty percent (56 of 70) of the "same day" group subsequently had one or more further seizures with (n = 14) or without (n = 42) medication; 80.9% (340 of 420) of the "different day" group had one or more further seizures with (n = 115) or without (n = 225) medication. Seizure types were nearly identical. Cause was the same (except for fewer idiopathic "genetic" cases in the "same day" group: 1 of 70 vs. 42 of 420; p = 0.02). Rates of mental handicap and previous febrile seizures were the same. Children in the "same day" group were younger on average (60 vs. 84 months; p = 0.001) and were somewhat more likely to have neurological impairment. Outcome after 7 years average follow-up was the same: 58% of the "same day" group and 56% of the "different day" group were in remission. Conclusion: If two or more unprovoked seizures (with normal consciousness between) occur on the same day, the child appears to have epilepsy and will have a clinical course identical to that of the child with a longer time interval between the first two seizures. [source]

The Effects of a Physician Slowdown on Emergency Department Volume and Treatment

ACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 11 2006
Brian Walsh MD
Objectives In February 2003, many physicians in New Jersey participated in a work slowdown to publicize large increases in malpractice premiums and generate support for legislative reform. It was anticipated that the community physician slowdown (hereafter referred to as "slowdown") would increase emergency department (ED) visits. The authors' goal was to help others prepare for anticipated increases in ED volumes by describing the preparatory staffing changes made and quantifying increases in ED volume. Methods This was a retrospective cohort study performed at a New Jersey suburban teaching hospital with 70,000 annual visits. Consecutive patients seen by emergency physicians were enrolled. The authors extracted patient visit data from the computerized tracking system and analyzed hours worked by personnel, patient volumes, admission rates, and patient throughput times. Variables from each day of the slowdown with baseline values for the same day of the week for the four weeks before and after the slowdown were compared. A Bonferroni correction was used, with p < 0.01 considered statistically significant. Results Total patient volume increased 79% from baseline (95% confidence interval [CI] = 20% to 137%). Pediatric volume increased 223% (95% CI = 171% to 274%). Overall admission rate decreased 29% compared with baseline (95% CI = 8% to 51%). Patient throughput times did not change significantly. Similar results for these variables were found for the second through fourth days of the slowdown. Conclusions Emergency department visits, especially pediatric visits, increased markedly during the community physician slowdown. Anticipatory increases in staffing effectively prevented increased throughput times. [source]

Immediate effects of methylphenidate on cognitive attention skills of children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder

DEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 6 2005
Jane Hood MSc
This study investigated the immediate effects of stimulant medication (methylphenidate) on cognitive attention processes in children with attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Thirteen males and two females (mean age 9y 5mo, SD 18.3mo) with a diagnosis of ADHD and who were to be prescribed methylphenidate were assessed twice on one day with the Test of Everyday Attention for Children, a neuropsychological battery designed to tap different aspects of cognitive attention. Between assessments, the children were administered methylphenidate (10mg). Each child had at least average intelligence (IQ 80 or over, as measured by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - III UK) and was on no other medication. A group of 16 children, who were matched for age, sex, and intelligence, also performed the cognitive tests twice on the same day to control for practice effects of testing. At the first assessment, children with ADHD demonstrated significant impairments in several aspects of cognitive attention in comparison with the control group, particularly sustained attention. After administration of methylphenidate for the children with ADHD, they showed significant improvements in their performance on measures of cognitive attention compared to controls. The immediate effects of methylphenidate and the significance of measuring cognitive aspects of attention as well as behavioural measures are discussed. [source]

Role of fine-needle aspirate immunophenotyping by flow cytometry in rapid diagnosis of lymphoproliferative disorders

DIAGNOSTIC CYTOPATHOLOGY, Issue 7 2007
Ritu Gupta M.D.
Abstract Immunophenotyping is an essential component in the diagnostic work-up of lymphoproliferative disorders (LPD). As compared to immunohistochemistry, flow cytometric immunophenotyping (FCMI) is rapid, quantitative and a more objective technique. This study was designed to evaluate the utility of FCMI on fine needle aspirates (FNA) in rapid diagnosis of LPD in routine clinical practice. FNA from 31 consecutive cases clinically suggestive of LPD were subjected to FCMI. Representative material for FCMI was obtained in 28 (90%) cases and a definite diagnosis established in 27 cases. Histopathogical correlation was available in 22 cases and concordance with FCMI results was observed in 19 (86.4%) cases. FCMI analysis was inconclusive in 4 cases. The results of FCMI were available the same day and were crucial for therapeutic purpose in 3 patients with superior vena cava syndrome. FCMI combined with cytological examination of aspirate smears permits rapid diagnosis with high level of accuracy resulting in efficient treatment planning for critically ill patients and those from far-off rural areas. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2007;35:381,385. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Relationship between Strain Rate Imaging and Coronary Flow Reserve in Assessing Myocardial Viability after Acute Myocardial Infarction

ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 8 2010
Ph.D., Seong-Mi Park M.D.
Objectives: To evaluate the relationship between strain rate (SR) imaging and coronary flow reserve (CFR) in assessing viability of akinetic myocardium after acute myocardial infarction (MI). Methods: Forty patients with acute first ST-elevation MI were analyzed. SR imaging and CFR by intracoronary flow measurement were obtained on the same day, 3,5 days after primary percutaneous coronary intervention. Viability of the akinetic myocardium was determined on 6-week echocardiography. Results: Systolic SR (SRs, ,0.42 ± 0.10 vs. ,0.35 ± 0.11 per second, P = 0.03), early diastolic SR (SRe, 0.68 ± 0.31 vs. 0.41 ± 0.22 per second, P = 0.003), and systolic strain (Ss, ,5.9 ± 3.4 vs. ,2.5 ± 4.0%, P = 0.04) were greater in akinetic, but viable myocardium of 21 patients than in akinetic and nonviable myocardium of 19 patients. CFR was also higher in patients with akinetic, but viable myocardium (2.0 ± 0.5 vs. 1.5 ± 0.5, P < 0.001). SRs, SRe, and Ss were significantly related to CFR (r =,0.50, r = 0.58, r =,0.56, respectively, all P , 0.001) and SRe was most related to CFR (P < 0.001). The sensitivity and specificity to predict myocardial viability were 85.7% and 68.4% for CFR (cutoff = 1.75), and 90.5% and 57.9% for SRe (cutoff = 0.37 per second), respectively. Conclusions: The degree of myocardial deformation determined by SR imaging was related to the degree of microvascular integrity determined by CFR, and can be used as a noninvasive method to predict myocardial viability after acute MI. (Echocardiography 2010;27:977-984) [source]

Flower-feeding affects mating performance in male oriental fruit flies Bactrocera dorsalis

ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 1 2000
Todd E. Shelly
Summary 1. Males of the oriental fruit fly Bactrocera dorsalis are attracted to and feed on flowers of the golden shower blossom Cassia fistula. Flowers of this plant contain methyl eugenol, the metabolites of which apparently function in the synthesis of male sex pheromone. 2. The goal of the study reported here was to determine whether feeding on C. fistula flowers enhanced male mating success. Mating frequencies of unfed (control) and fed (treated) males were compared in trials conducted 0 (same day), 2, 7, or 21 days after treated males were exposed to the flowers. Trials were performed using flowers from three trees of C. fistula to investigate whether the effects of floral feeding were similar among different plants. 3. For all three trees, treated males accounted for a disproportionately large number of matings in trials performed 0, 2, and 7 days after floral feeding by the treated males. For two of the trees, treated males also had a mating advantage 21 days after flower-feeding. 4. Additional tests were conducted to compare female attraction to perch sites of control and treated males. When at a lek, males exhibit rigorous wing-fanning behaviour, presumably to increase dispersal of the sex pheromone. Floral feeding had no significant effect on the level of wing-fanning. Significantly more female sightings were recorded for perches of treated than control males, however, suggesting that the treated males produced a pheromone more attractive to females than did control males. [source]

Effect of isometric exercise and body scanning on cigarette cravings and withdrawal symptoms

ADDICTION, Issue 7 2009
Michael Ussher
ABSTRACT Aims To examine the acute effects of a guided relaxation routine (body scan) and isometric exercise on desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal symptoms. Design Experimental comparison of three conditions. Participants Forty-eight individuals reporting smoking ,10 cigarettes daily. Intervention Random assignment to one of three interventions delivered via a 10-minute audio: isometric exercise (IE, n = 14), body scanning (BS, n = 18) or a reading about natural history (control group, n = 16). Interventions were delivered twice on the same day: in the laboratory, then in their ,normal' environment. Measurements Desire to smoke (primary outcome) and withdrawal symptoms were rated at pre-intervention and up to 30 minutes post-intervention. Findings Controlling for baseline scores, post-intervention desire to smoke and withdrawal symptoms were significantly lower for IE and BS groups, compared with the controls, in both environments. There were no significant differences for IE versus BS. For desire to smoke, controlling for baseline values, ratings in the laboratory were significantly lower for IE and BS versus the control up to 30 minutes post-intervention. In the normal environment, these ratings were significantly lower only up to 5 minutes post-intervention. Conclusions Brief IE and BS interventions are effective for reducing desire to smoke and withdrawal symptoms in temporarily abstaining smokers. These interventions were found to be more effective in the laboratory than in the smoker's normal environment, but this may be an artefact of there not being a sufficient ,wash-out' period between interventions. These techniques may be beneficial for managing desire to smoke and tobacco withdrawal. [source]

Capillary electrophoresis using copolymers of different composition as physical coatings: A comparative study

ELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 5-6 2006
Guillaume L. Erny
Abstract In this work, a comparative study on the use of different polymers as physically adsorbed coatings for CE is presented. It is demonstrated that the use of ad hoc synthesized polymers as coatings allows tailoring the EOF in CE increasing the flexibility of this analytical technique. Namely, different polymers were synthesized at our laboratory using different percentages of ethylpyrrolidine methacrylate (EpyM) and N,N -dimethylacrylamide (DMA). Thus, by modifying the percentage of EpyM and DMA monomers it is possible to manipulate the positive charge of the copolymer, varying the global electrical charge on the capillary wall and with that the EOF. These coated capillaries are obtained by simply flushing a given EpyM,DMA aqueous solution into bare silica capillaries. It is shown that by using these coated capillaries at adequate pHs, faster or more resolved CE separations can be achieved depending on the requirements of each analysis. Moreover, it is demonstrated that these coated capillaries reduce the electrostatic adsorption of basic proteins onto the capillary wall. Furthermore, EpyM,DMA coatings allow the reproducible chiral separation of enantiomers through the partial filling technique (PFT). The EpyM,DMA coated capillaries are demonstrated to provide reproducible EOF values independently of the pH and polymer composition with%RSD values lower than 2% for the same day. It is also demonstrated that the coating procedure is reproducible between capillaries. The compatibility of this coating protocol with CE in microchips is discussed. [source]

Epilepsy Can Be Diagnosed When the First Two Seizures Occur on the Same Day

The Process and Causes of Fledging in a Cavity-Nesting Passerine Bird, the House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

ETHOLOGY, Issue 9 2004
L. Scott Johnson
Little is known about the process or causes of fledging or nest-leaving in passerine birds because researchers can rarely predict when fledging will occur in a given nest. We used continuous videotaping of nests to both document the process of fledging in the house wren, Troglodytes aedon, a small, cavity-nesting songbird, and test hypotheses as to what might cause fledging to begin. Fledging began any time from 14 to 19 d after hatching commenced. Slower-developing broods fledged later than faster-developing broods. Fledging typically began within 5 h of sunrise and over 80% of all nestlings fledged before noon. All nestlings fledged on the same day at 65% of nests and over two consecutive days in most other nests. We found no evidence that fledging was triggered by changes in parental behaviour. Parental rate of food delivery to nestlings did not decline during a 3-h period leading up to the first fledging, nor was the rate of feeding just prior to the first fledging lower than the rate at the same time the day before. Moreover, parents did not slow the rate of food delivery to nests after part of the brood had fledged. Hatching is asynchronous in our study population which creates a marked age/size hierarchy within broods. At most nests, the first nestling to fledge was the most well-developed nestling in the brood or nearly so (as measured by feather length). This suggests that fledging typically begins when the most well-developed nestlings in the brood reach some threshold size. However, at about one-fifth of nests, the first nestling to fledge was only moderate in size. At these nests, severe competition for food may have caused smaller, less competitive nestlings to fledge first to increase their access to food. We found no strong support for the suggestion that the oldest nestlings delay fledging until their least-developed nestmate reaches some minimum size, although further experimental work on this question is warranted. [source]

Large annual net ecosystem CO2 uptake of a Mojave Desert ecosystem

GLOBAL CHANGE BIOLOGY, Issue 7 2008
GEORG WOHLFAHRT
Abstract The net ecosystem CO2 exchange (NEE) between a Mojave Desert ecosystem and the atmosphere was measured over the course of 2 years at the Mojave Global Change Facility (MGCF, Nevada, USA) using the eddy covariance method. The investigated desert ecosystem was a sink for CO2, taking up 102±67 and 110±70 g C m,2 during 2005 and 2006, respectively. A comprehensive uncertainty analysis showed that most of the uncertainty of the inferred sink strength was due to the need to account for the effects of air density fluctuations on CO2 densities measured with an open-path infrared gas analyser. In order to keep this uncertainty within acceptable bounds, highest standards with regard to maintenance of instrumentation and flux measurement postprocessing have to be met. Most of the variability in half-hourly NEE was explained by the amount of incident photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). On a seasonal scale, PAR and soil water content were the most important determinants of NEE. Precipitation events resulted in an initial pulse of CO2 to the atmosphere, temporarily reducing NEE or even causing it to switch sign. During summer, when soil moisture was low, a lag of 3,4 days was observed before the correlation between NEE and precipitation switched from positive to negative, as opposed to conditions of high soil water availability in spring, when this transition occurred within the same day the rain took place. Our results indicate that desert ecosystem CO2 exchange may be playing a much larger role in global carbon cycling and in modulating atmospheric CO2 levels than previously assumed , especially since arid and semiarid biomes make up >30% of Earth's land surface. [source]

Pharmacoeconomics of Gastrointestinal Drug Utilisation Prior and Post Helicobacter pylori Eradication

HELICOBACTER, Issue 1 2004
Rogier M. Klok
ABSTRACT Background., Eradication of Helicobacter pylori prevents recurrence of peptic ulcer. In pharmacoeconomic analyses it is often presumed that after successful eradication no more gastrointestinal drugs are used. We investigated this presumed positive monetary effect using General Practitioners prescribing data, including information in diagnosis. Methods., From the RNG-database we identified patients with a H. pylori eradication in the years 1997,2000. H. pylori eradication was defined as a prescription of two antibiotics and one gastrointestinal drug on the same day. Patients were divided into a group with diagnosed ulcers and a group without diagnosed ulcers. Gastrointestinal drug costs were calculated for 4 months prior to eradication and 9,12 months post eradication. For comparison costs in all periods were expressed per patient per period. For statistical analysis the paired t -test was used. Results., One hundred and two patients were eligible for evaluation. Of these patients 35 had a diagnosed ulcer and 67 had not. Generally the number of patients on gastrointestinal drugs decreased (61% prior vs. 33% post), however, the drug costs did not change (,33 prior vs. ,34 post). Costs for proton pump inhibitors increased post eradication (,14 prior vs. ,28 post). The ulcer and nonulcer group showed similar results. Conclusion.,Helicobacter pylori eradication is thought to be cost effective, however, we did not find a decrease in costs for all gastrointestinal drugs. There may be a great pharmacoeconomical advantage when it is possible to predict which patients are more likely to ,fail' eradication therapy. [source]

The post,announcement performance of dividend,changing companies: The dividend,signalling hypothesis revisited

ACCOUNTING & FINANCE, Issue 2 2002
Abeyratna Gunasekarage
This study revisits the dividend,signalling hypothesis by examining the post,announcement performance of U.K. companies which disclose dividend and earnings news to the capital market on the same day. For this purpose, we first analyse market,adjusted excess returns for three periods around the announcement and then examine the financial performance in the year of the announcement and in the subsequent five,year period. The near announcement excess returns and the announcement,year financial profiles provide strong evidence in support of the dividend,signalling hypothesis. However, in contrast to the predictions of the hypothesis, the longer,term results suggest that the companies which announce a reduction in both dividends and earnings (bad news companies) outperform their dividend,increasing counterparts. [source]

fMRI changes in relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis patients complaining of fatigue after IFN,-1a injection

HUMAN BRAIN MAPPING, Issue 5 2007
Maria A. Rocca
Abstract If fatigue in multiple sclerosis (MS) is related to an abnormal activation of the sensorimotor brain network, the activity of such a network should vary with varying fatigue. We studied 22 patients treated with interferon beta 1a (IFN,-1a; Avonex, Biogen, Cambridge, MA) with no fatigue (10) and with reversible fatigue (12). fMRI examinations were performed: 1) the same day of IFN,-1a injection (no fatigue; entry), 2) the day after IFN,-1a injection (fatigue; time 1), and 3) 4 days after IFN,-1a injection (no fatigue; time 2). Patients performed a simple motor task with the right, clinically unaffected hand. At time 1, compared with entry and time 2, MS patients with reversible fatigue showed an increased activation of the thalamus bilaterally. In MS patients without fatigue thalamus was more activated at entry than at time 1. In both groups at entry the primary SMC and the SMA were more activated than at times 1 and 2. At entry and time 1, when compared to patients with reversible fatigue, those without showed increased activations of the SII. Conversely, patients with reversible fatigue had increased activations of the thalamus and of several regions of the frontal lobes. An abnormal recruitment of the fronto-thalamic circuitry is associated with IFN,-1a-induced fatigue in MS patients. Hum Brain Mapp, 2007. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Differences in egg size, shell thickness, pore density, pore diameter and water vapour conductance between first and second eggs of Snares Penguins Eudyptes robustus and their influence on hatching asynchrony

IBIS, Issue 2 2005
MELANIE MASSARO
Brood reduction in birds is frequently induced by hatching asynchrony. Crested penguins (genus Eudyptes) are obligate brood reducers, but in contrast to most other birds, first-laid eggs are considerably smaller in size than second-laid eggs; furthermore, first-laid eggs hatch after their siblings. The mechanisms underlying this reversal in size and hatching order remain unclear. In this study, we tested whether the second-laid eggs of Snares Penguins Eudyptes robustus have a higher eggshell porosity allowing them to maintain a higher metabolic rate throughout incubation and to hatch before their first-laid siblings. We investigated differences in egg size, shell thickness, pore density, pore diameter and water vapour conductance between first and second eggs within clutches and examined the influence of these shell characteristics on hatching asynchrony. First-laid eggs of Snares Penguins were approximately 78% of the size of the larger second eggs. Second-laid eggs had considerably thicker shells and more pores per cm2 than first eggs, whereas pore diameter did not differ between eggs. Water vapour conductance was greater in second- (16.8 mg/day/torr) than in first-laid eggs (14.9 mg/day/torr). The difference in water vapour conductance between first- and second-laid eggs within clutches was related to hatching patterns. In nests where second eggs hatched before first-laid eggs, second eggs had a considerably greater water conductance than their sibling, whereas in nests where both eggs hatched on the same day, the difference in water conductance between eggs was very small, and in a few nests where small first eggs hatched before their larger sibling, they had a greater water conductance than their larger second-laid nestmate. Surprisingly few studies have investigated differences in shell characteristics between eggs within clutches and associated effects on hatching asynchrony. This study has demonstrated that such differences exist between eggs within clutches and that they can influence hatching patterns. [source]

Dependence between extreme sea surge, river flow and precipitation in eastern Britain

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLIMATOLOGY, Issue 10 2002
Cecilia Svensson
Abstract Flooding in estuaries may be caused by both high river flows and by high sea levels. In order to investigate whether these tend to occur simultaneously in eastern Britain, the dependence between high sea surge (observed sea level minus predicted astronomical tide), river flow and precipitation was studied using a measure of dependence specially developed for extremal dependence. Extreme events were interpreted using meteorological maps. This new analysis found that the strongest flow,surge dependence occurs between river flow on the north shore of the Firth of Forth and sea surge at Aberdeen, Wick and Lerwick. In contrast to most other catchments in eastern Britain, the area to the north of the Firth of Forth is not sheltered from south-westerly winds by any major topographical barrier. Therefore, precipitation from this direction may be orographically enhanced as it encounters the hills on the northern side of the firth, and high river flows may ensue. Events resulting in both high river flow and surge in the northern part of the study area were found to be caused by cyclones travelling north-eastward to the north of Scotland. High surge events, only, were associated with similar storm tracks, but without much precipitation from the fronts. High river flows, only, were associated with rain-bearing east,west-directed fronts over northern Britain, with slow-moving depressions located over or to the west of the British Isles where they are unable to generate a strong surge in the North Sea. The dependence between river flow and surge was found to be stronger during winter than summer, and a lagged analysis revealed that the dependence is strongest when flow and surge occur on the same day, but was also strong for lags of plus and minus 1 day. For precipitation, the dependence with both flow and surge is strongest when precipitation precedes them by 1 day. Copyright © 2002 Royal Meteorological Society. [source]

Effect of tourniquet pressure and intra-individual variability on plasma fibrinogen, platelet P-selectin and monocyte tissue factor

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LABORATORY HEMATOLOGY, Issue 6 2000
J. L. Ritchie
Small differences in levels of certain haemostatic components may be clinically significant. It is important therefore to eliminate potential sources of confounding variability. This study investigated the effect of removing tourniquet pressure prior to sample collection on plasma fibrinogen levels, platelet P-selectin and monocyte tissue factor expression. Blood was collected from the right arm under maintained tourniquet pressure and from the left arm following the release of pressure once the vein was sufficiently inflated for insertion of a needle. Whole blood was labelled within one hour of venepuncture to allow analysis of platelet P-selectin and monocyte tissue factor by flow cytometry. Plasma fibrinogen levels were analysed in samples stored at ,70 °C, for all individuals at the end of the study using a method based on the Clauss technique. Intra-individual variability for each of the components was assessed by collecting samples under tourniquet pressure from four individuals on the same day on three consecutive weeks. Intra-individual variations were greater than assay CVs for all three components. There were no significant differences between the two tourniquet methods of collection for fibrinogen, P-selectin or tissue factor. In conclusion, there is no reason not to use a tourniquet during collection of blood for analysis of plasma fibrinogen, platelet P-selectin or monocyte tissue factor. [source]

A case report: Primary extragonadal yolk sac tumor of penile shaft in a 2-year-old child

INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF UROLOGY, Issue 4 2009
Ryuto Nakazawa
Abstract: A 2-year-old boy, who had the chief complaints of penile swelling and pain, was brought to the hospital by his mother. Penile contusion/trauma was suspected and he was admitted the same day to undergo emergency surgery to eliminate hematoma. The surgery revealed that the origin of the bleeding was not trauma but a tumor lesion of the penile shaft. It was histopathologically identified as a yolk sac tumor and no tumorous lesions were found except that in the penis. Therefore the patient was diagnosed as definitely having a yolk sac tumor originating in the penis. The patient received four cycles of cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin treatment as adjuvant chemotherapy. Although it was impossible to completely resect the tumor, cisplatin, etoposide and bleomycin chemotherapy was effective and a complete response was achieved. We plan to carefully monitor the patient in the future. [source]

Midpoint CD34 measurement as a predictor of PBPC product yield in pediatric patients undergoing high-dose chemotherapy ,

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL APHERESIS, Issue 3 2006
Rameshwar S. Sidhu
Abstract High-dose chemo/radiotherapy of sensitive tumors requires PBPC rescue doses of >3×106 CD34/kg (range: 3,20×106 CD34/kg). Because of the diversity of stem cell treatment protocols and clinical presentation of patients at the time of peripheral blood progenitor cell (PBPC) harvest, the use of the mid-point CD34 positive cell measurement was initiated to predict the final CD34-positive cell product yield/stem cell harvest. The measurement of CD34-positive cells at the mid-point of the initial setting of 5 total blood volumes (TBV) allows for the extension, shortening, or no change in the TBV processing to achieve a maximum goal of CD34-positive cells/kg body weight required for stem cell transplantation. The estimation of mid-point CD34-positive cells guided our center to extend 22 procedures, shorten 26 procedures, and leave 20 procedures unchanged. This investigation addresses three aspects of PBPC collection in pediatric patients: (1) the processing of large blood volumes (more than the defined 3 TBV and maximum up to 13 TBV in one session) to achieve good efficiency of the procedure; (2) the use of the mid-point CD34 measurement at 2.5 of 5 TBV initially set to predict the maximum goal of CD34 cells /kg needed on the same day of PBPC collection; and (3) PBPC collection in pediatric patients <10 kg body weight (as low as 5.8 kg body weight). J. Clin. Apheresis 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source]

Quadrant root planing versus same-day full-mouth root planing

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 2 2004
II. Microbiological findings
Abstract Objectives: The aim of this study was to test the hypothesis that over a period of 6 months, same-day full-mouth scaling and root planing (FM-SRP) resulted in greater reductions in the detection frequency of five putative periodontal pathogens compared with quadrant scaling and root planing (Q-SRP) in chronic periodontitis patients. Materials and Methods: Forty patients were recruited into this study. Subjects were randomised into two groups. The FM-SRP group received full-mouth scaling and root planing completed within the same day, while the Q-SRP group received quadrant root planing at 2-weekly intervals over four consecutive sessions. Selected-site analyses were performed on the deepest site in each quadrant before and after therapy, at approximately 3 and 6 months from baseline (R1 and R2) and clinical indices were recorded with an electronic pressure-sensitive probe. In addition, subgingival plaque samples were collected from these sites at baseline (BAS), at reassessment 1 (R1), approximately 6 weeks after the completion of therapy and at reassessment 2 (R2), 6 months from baseline. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to determine the presence of Porphyromonas gingivalis, Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans, Prevotella intermedia, Treponema denticola and Bacteroides forsythus in plaque. Results: Both therapies resulted in significant improvements in all clinical indices both at R1 and R2. A marked reduction in the presence of all candidate periodontal pathogens was noted after both treatment modalities, reaching statistical significance for the majority of the test organisms. These improvements were maintained over a period of 6 months. When the two treatment groups were compared, a significantly higher percentage of Q-SRP patients was positive for P. intermedia at R1 compared with FM-SRP patients (p<0.05). In addition, a greater reduction in the patient prevalence for T. denticola was found for the FM-SRP group than the Q-SRP group at R1 and R2 from baseline (p<0.005), but the significance of this is questionable given the skewed detection frequency of this organism at baseline between the two treatments (p<0.01). Conclusion: This study failed to confirm that same-day FM-SRP resulted in greater microbiological improvements compared with Q-SRP at 2-weekly intervals over a 6-month period, as determined by PCR. [source]

Preoperative localization of parathyroid adenoma with sonography and 99mTc-sestamibi scintigraphy in primary hyperparathyroidism

JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ULTRASOUND, Issue 4 2007
Ilaria Grosso MD
Abstract Purpose. To evaluate the sensitivity, specificity, and usefulness of dual-phase 99mTc-Sestamibi scintigraphy (SS) and sonography (US) of the neck, alone and in combination, as noninvasive adenoma localizing procedures in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism prior to parathyroidectomy. Methods. We retrospectively analyzed the charts of 79 patients with parathyroid (PT) adenomas and confirmed diagnosis of hyperparathyroidism who were evaluated with SS and US prior to successful parathyroidectomy. Results. Ninety-three adenomas were removed during bilateral neck exploration. SS alone showed a sensitivity of 76% and a specificity of 79% compared with 89% and 75%, respectively, for US performed after SS on the same day. Combination of the 2 procedures yielded a sensitivity of 89% and a specificity of 90%, with 22% discordant results. The differences in sensitivity and specificity between the 2 techniques alone or in combination were not statistically significant. Conclusions. No benefit was gained from using both SS and US for the preoperative localization of PT adenomas in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Each technique can be negatively affected by thyroid enlargment and nodularity. US, when performed by a skilled operator, is a reliable tool for PT adenoma localization. If the US findings are inconclusive, SS should be used. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound, 2007 [source]

Locus Coeruleus Norepinephrine Regulates the Surge of Prolactin During Oestrus

JOURNAL OF NEUROENDOCRINOLOGY, Issue 10 2005
R. E. Szawka
Abstract A secondary surge of prolactin has been recently characterised on the afternoon of oestrus. Because the noradrenergic nucleus locus coeruleus participates in the genesis of the pro-oestrous and steroid-induced surges of prolactin, the aim of the present study was to investigate the importance of locus coeruleus norepinephrine in the generation of the prolactin surge of oestrus. For this purpose, we initially re-evaluated the profile of prolactin secretion during the oestrous cycle to verify whether this surge of prolactin was physiological and specific to the day of oestrus. Thereafter, the following were evaluated: (i) the effect of locus coeruleus lesion on the secondary surge of prolactin and on norepinephrine concentration in the medial preoptic area (MPOA), medial basal hypothalamus (MBH) and paraventricular nucleus (PVN) during the day of oestrus and (ii) locus coeruleus neurones activity during the same day by Fos immunoreactivity. Locus coeruleus lesion completely blocked the prolactin surge of oestrus in all rats studied and also significantly reduced norepinephrine concentration in the MPOA, MBH and PVN during the day of oestrus. The number of double-labelled tyrosine hydroxylase/Fos immunoreactive neurones in locus coeruleus was significantly higher at 14.00 h of oestrus, suggesting an increase in its activity preceding the prolactin surge that generally occurs at 15.00 h. Therefore, the increase in locus coeruleus activity on the afternoon of oestrus supports the data obtained with bilateral lesion of this nucleus, suggesting a stimulatory role of locus coeruleus norepinephrine in the genesis of the secondary surge of prolactin. [source]

Individual female clutch identification through yolk protein electrophoresis in the communally breeding guira cuckoo (Guira guira)

MOLECULAR ECOLOGY, Issue 11 2002
Mariana O. Cariello
Abstract Avian communal breeding systems generate alternative behavioural strategies for females, resulting in differences in reproductive success. Identifying eggs of different females in such systems is problematic, however, due to egg destruction before incubation, difficulty of capturing adults, and/or inaccuracy of egg identification based on egg morphometry. Here, we describe a technique that uses electrophoresis of yolk proteins to determine egg ownership, which we applied to communally breeding guira cuckoos (Guira guira). Validation of the method included identical yolk protein banding patterns in all eggs of the same female, but different patterns in eggs of different females in budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus), and identical patterns in yolk follicles of the same females in guira cuckoos. We applied the protocol to 195 guira cuckoo eggs from 34 joint nests in 2 years. All multiple guira cuckoo eggs laid on the same day in single nests had distinct banding patterns of yolk proteins, practically eliminating the possibility of more than one female being represented by the same pattern. Some identical banding patterns were repeated in different days within a nesting bout, indicating that some females laid several eggs in shared nests. Identical patterns occasionally occurred in renestings of groups, indicating that some females lay eggs in consecutive nestings. Yolk protein electrophoresis is a useful tool to identify egg maternity in other circumstances, such as polygynous mating systems with joint nests and intraspecific parasitism. Additionally, it is an alternative method for species where electrophoresis of egg white proteins does not show sufficient polymorphism. [source]

Putaminal magnetic resonance imaging features at various magnetic field strengths in multiple system atrophy,

MOVEMENT DISORDERS, Issue 12 2010
Hirohisa Watanabe MD
Abstract We delineated the effects of magnetic field strength on signal intensities to facilitate the specific findings of multiple system atrophy (MSA). Fifteen patients with probable MSA were imaged by 0.35T fast spin-echo (FSE), 1.5T FSE, and 3.0T FSE using a consistent protocol, testing all field strengths on the same day. Sixty patients with probable Parkinson's disease (PD) also underwent imaging. Moderate or marked hyperintensity at the dorsolateral outer putaminal margin, hyperintensity of the putaminal body, hypointensity relative to the globus pallidus at the dorsolateral putaminal margin, and infratentorial signal changes were evaluated as specific findings for MSA. As the field strength increased, the occurrence of hyperintensity both at the dorsolateral outer putaminal margin and of the putaminal body decreased, while the occurrence of hypointensity at the dorsolateral putaminal margin increased in MSA. The occurrence of uniform mild hyperintensity of the outer putaminal margin was evident in 7% at 0.35T, 40% at 1.5T, and 47% at 3.0T in MSA and in 5% at 0.35T, 60% at 1.5T, and 75% at 3.0T in PD. However, no PD patients showed hyperintensity at the dorsolateral outer putaminal margin and that of the putaminal body. Putaminal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in MSA were altered considerably by magnetic field strength. The severity and distribution of signal changes are important for assessing putaminal MRI findings in MSA. © 2010 Movement Disorders Society [source]

Rheumatology telephone helplines: Patient and health professionals' requirements

MUSCULOSKELETAL CARE, Issue 1 2006
Susan J Brown MSc RGN EN(G)
Abstract Objectives:,The aim of this study was to ascertain patients' and health professionals' requirements from a rheumatology helpline and how such a service should be delivered. Methods:,Self-completed questionnaires were administered to both users of rheumatology helplines, patients and health professionals (HPs), and providers of rheumatology services at five UK NHS trusts. Additional data were sought from experts in the field. Information was elicited on access to the service, preferred waiting time for response to a call, acceptability of an answerphone and choice of HP responding. Quantitative data were analysed using percentages and Chi-squared tests. Open questions were analysed as free text responses, and organized into clusters of themes. Results:,A total of 607 questionnaires were returned, 523 from users (411 patients, 112 health professionals) and 84 from providers. There were no significant differences across the five Trusts. The top six reasons for patients contacting the helpline were: advice on changes in condition, drug information, understanding symptoms, blood results, information on diagnosis, and appointment queries. All groups recommended a return call on the same day and were happy to leave an answerphone message. HP users requested additional access via e-mail and fax. Rheumatology practitioners were deemed the most appropriate personnel to staff a helpline. Conclusions:,The findings of this study have contributed a valuable insight into the essential components of a rheumatology helpline service from a user and provider perspective. These data will add to existing recommendations for the management of a rheumatology helpline service and ultimately contribute to a proposal for national guidelines. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Noninvasive Study of Ventricular Preexcitation Using Multichannel Magnetocardiography

PACING AND CLINICAL ELECTROPHYSIOLOGY, Issue 1p2 2003
RICCARDO FENICI
FENICI, R., et al.: Noninvasive Study of Ventricular Preexcitation Using Multichannel Magnetocardiography. In clinical practice, noninvasive classification of ventricular preexcitation (VPX) is usually done with ECG algorithms, which provide only a qualitative localization of accessory pathways. Since 1984, single or multichannel magnetocardiograpy (MMCG) has been used for three-dimensional localization of VPX sites, but a systematic study comparing the results of ECG and MMCG methods was lacking. This study evaluated the reliability of MMCG in an unshielded electrophysiological catheterization laboratory, and compared VPX classification as achieved with the five most recent ECG algorithms with that obtained by MMCG mapping and imaging techniques. A nine-channel direct current superconducting quantum interference device (DC-SQUID) MMCG system (sensitivity is 20 fT/Hz0.5) was used for sequential MMCG from 36 points on the anterior chest wall, within an area20 × 20 cm. Twenty-eight patients with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome were examined at least twice, on the same day or after several months to test the reproducibility of the measurements. In eight patients, the reproducibility of MMCG was also evaluated using different MCG instrumentation during maximal VPX and/or atrioventricular reentrant tachycardia induced by transesophageal atrial pacing via a nonmagnetic catheter. The results of VPX localization with ECG algorithms and MMCG were compared. Equivalent current dipole, effective magnetic dipole, and distributed currents imaging models were used for the inverse solution. MMCG classification of VPX was found to be more accurate than ECG methods, and also provided additional information for the identification of paraseptal pathways. Furthermore, in patients with complex activation patterns during the delta wave, distributed currents imaging revealed two different activation patterns, suggesting the existence of multiple accessory pathways. (PACE 2003; 26[Pt. II]:431,435) [source]

Relationship between adipokines and manifestations of childhood asthma

PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY, Issue 6 2008
Kyung W. Kim
Although the prevalences of asthma and obesity are increasing substantially in recent decades, very little is known about the possible association between them. We evaluated the roles of leptin, adiponectin, and resistin, which are adipokines produced by adipose tissue, on childhood asthma, and their association with pulmonary function and bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We studied 149 atopic asthmatic children, 37 non-atopic asthmatic children, and 54 healthy children. Body mass index was calculated using height and weight, which were measured on the same day that pulmonary function tests and methacholine challenge tests were performed. Skin prick tests were performed, and total eosinophil count, total serum immunoglobulin E (IgE), serum eosinophil cationic protein, leptin, adiponectin, and resistin were measured in all subjects. Atopic asthmatics had lower resistin levels compared with non-atopic asthma and control groups, but leptin and adiponectin did not show any difference among these three groups. Resistin demonstrated positive correlation with methacholine PC20 and negative correlations with eosinophil count and serum total IgE. Leptin and adiponectin showed associations with forced expiratory volume in 1 s or forced expiratory flow between 25,75%. Multiple regression analysis revealed that resistin was a significant predictive factor for asthma. There was no direct association between asthma and leptin or adiponectin. Our findings suggest that resistin may play a negative predictive role in asthma. Adiponectin and leptin showed close associations with pulmonary function and may have disease-modifying effects in children with asthma. [source]

Chromosomal location of Fusarium head blight resistance genes and analysis of the relationship between resistance to head blight and brown foot rot

PLANT BREEDING, Issue 1 2000
A. Mentewab
Abstract In order to identify chromosomes involved in resistance to Fusarium head blight, a set of 21 substitution lines of Triticum macha (resistant) chromosomes into ,Hobbit''sib'(susceptible) were evaluated in trials over 2 years. For the first year's trial, all plants were inoculated on the same day with a conidial suspension of F. culmorum. For the second trial, individual plants were inoculated precisely at mid anthesis of each plant over a period of 2 weeks. The disease level was assessed by visual scoring, relative ear weight and F. culmorumn -specfic quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that T. macha chromosomes 1B, 4A and 7A conferred good overall resistance, suggesting that they carry important genes for resistance. In two additional trials, T. macha and ,Hobbit''sib' were evaluated for resistance to brown foot rot. The results showed that T. macha was more susceptible than ,Hobbit',sib', indicating that stem base disease response is not correlated with head blight resistance in these cultivars. [source]

Demographic Data on the Victims of the September 11, 2001 Terror Attack on the World Trade Center, New York City

POPULATION AND DEVELOPMENT REVIEW, Issue 3 2002
Article first published online: 27 JAN 200
The magnitude of the death toll resulting from the attack on the World Trade Center is without precedent in the history of terrorist acts. Because of the scale and destructiveness of the buildings' collapse, a final list of the victims required a lengthy process, more so than was the case at the other sites of terrorist violence on the same day,at the Pentagon, Virginia (193 killed, 68 of these on American Airlines Flight 77), and near Shanksville, Pennsylvania (45 killed in the crash of United Airlines Flight 93). After the passing of a year, the list of the victims in New York, while essentially complete, is still not officially closed. On August 19, 2002, the city's medical examiner's office issued a list containing 2,819 names. Reproduced below are some data, released by the city's office of vital statistics, on the demographic characteristics of 2,723 victims (59 of these on United Airlines Flight 175 and 89 on American Airlines Flight 11) for whom a death certificate had been issued,an exacting procedure,as of August 16,2002. The cause of death, in each instance, was entered as homicide. The age distribution reflects the character of the World Trade Center,a workplace,and the time of day,early for tourist visits. The youngest victims perished as passengers in the two airplanes flown into the twin towers. [source]

The "Consecutive Combined Test",using Double test from week 8 + 0 and Nuchal Translucency Scan, for first trimester screening for Down Syndrome

PRENATAL DIAGNOSIS, Issue 12 2006
Kirsten Marie Schiøtt
Abstract Objective To test the performance of the "Consecutive Combined Test", applied on a high-risk population. The classic "Combined Test" (Double test (DT) and Nuchal Translucency (NT) measurement on the same day at app. week 12) gives detection rates (DR) for Down syndrome (DS) of 80,90% for false positive rates (FPR) of 5%. In affected pregnancies, however, the low PAPP-A level is more pronounced, the earlier in pregnancy. Thus, we hypothesized that the Double Test could be taken as early as from week 8 + 0, without compromising the excellent performance of the Combined Test. This "Consecutive Combined Test" allows for a centralised laboratory function. Methods Inclusion criteria were maternal age > 35 years (80%) or a family history (20%). Double test was taken at a median gestational age (GA) = 10 weeks. NT was measured at GA = 11 + 0 , 13 + 6. A combined risk estimate of > 1:400 at birth was used as cut-off. Results 881 had the full test. Screen positive = 34. CVS with aneuploidy = 11 (6 trisomy-21, 5 others). FPR = 3.2%. Positive Predictive Value (PPV) = 17.6% for T-21. Conclusion The "Consecutive Combined Test" applied on a high-risk population seems to be highly efficient with a remarkably high PPV. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]