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Different Treatments (different + treatment)
Terms modified by Different Treatments Selected AbstractsDelayed Wound Healing After Three Different Treatments for Widespread Actinic Keratosis on the Atrophic Bald ScalpDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 10 2003Patricia J. F. Quaedvlieg MD Background. Actinic keratosis is an exceedingly common premalignant lesion that can develop into squamous cell carcinoma. There is an increasing prevalence of actinic keratosis with increasing age. Numerous treatment options are available for the treatment of actinic keratosis on the scalp. Although we know that atrophic skin heals slowly, one should be careful but should not hesitate to treat. Objective. We present three patients with widespread actinic keratotic lesions on the atrophic bald scalp who received different treatments. Methods. Patient 1 was treated with medium-depth chemical peel, patient 2 with cryopeel, and patient 3 with CO2 laser resurfacing. In all patients, the entire surface area was treated. Results. Despite the different treatment methods used, all three patients had severly delayed wound healing as a complication. Remarkably, all patients had a prolonged period of re-epithelialization. Conclusion. Care has to be taken in patients with widespread actinic keratosis on the atrophic bald scalp when treating the entire surface area regardless the treatment modality. [source] Evolving Psychosis: Different Stages, Different TreatmentsJOURNAL OF PSYCHIATRIC & MENTAL HEALTH NURSING, Issue 3 2008JOHN AGGERGAARD LARSEN phd [source] Evolving Psychosis: Different Stages, Different Treatments , Edited by Jan Olav Johannessen, Brian Martindale and Johan CullbergBRITISH JOURNAL OF PSYCHOTHERAPY, Issue 3 2007Chris BroganArticle first published online: 20 APR 200 First page of article [source] Management of neuro-ophthalmology cases in childrenACTA OPHTHALMOLOGICA, Issue 2009S MILAZZO Neuro-ophthalmological conditions in children must be analyzed carefully and some emergencies must be recognized. Clinical and practical cases are illustrated. On that basis the most important aspects of the field of neuro-ophthalmology are covered succinctly but sufficiently to enable the practitioner to determine an appropriate diagnosis and course of treatment. Rare and unusual diseases are included but those that are especially critical to the patient's vision or general health and life. Some specific clinical signs and symptoms need to be carefully evaluated as papilledema, papillary abnormalities, ptosis, diplopia or ocular motility abnormalities. Each clinical case deals with a symptom that leads the patient to seek medical attention or a sign that is demonstrated on physical examination. The proper diagnosis is frequently made with the imaging but must be repeated if necessary. Specific techniques in children are described including oculomotor and electrical testing, tomodensitometry and magnetic resonance imaging. Different treatment as medical surgical and neurosurgical are discussed. The physician evaluating neuro-ophtalmic patients needs to have a broad background of medical information. So the patient's workup is properly managed and therapeutic orientations can be done. [source] Disposable Gold Electrode Array for Simultaneous Electrochemical StudiesELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 1 2008Graciela Priano Abstract An efficient and inexpensive eight gold electrode array has been manufactured by a combination of screen printing and gold electrodeposition techniques. Gold electrodeposition was performed in potentiostatic and galvanostatic conditions. Different treatments, involving temperature and polishing control, led to electrodes with different roughness. The electrochemical behavior of the generated gold surface was studied by cyclic voltammetry showing the characteristic response of polycrystalline gold, in contrast with disposable gold electrodes fabricated by screen printing from gold inks. The electrodes were chemically modified through the adsorption of alkanethiols self-assembled monolayers and the coupling of a model protein. Both reactions were followed by cyclic voltammetry and Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS). The electrodes have shown high reproducibility in their electrochemical behavior as well as in their modifications. [source] Electrooxidation of DNA at Glassy Carbon Electrodes Modified with Multiwall Carbon Nanotubes Dispersed in ChitosanELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 7-8 2007Soledad Bollo Abstract We report on the analytical performance of glassy carbon (GCE) electrodes modified with a dispersion of multiwall carbon nanotubes (CNT) in chitosan (CHIT) for the quantification of DNA. The electroanalytical response of the resulting electrodes was evaluated using differential pulse voltammetry, while the electrochemical reactivity of the film surface was characterized using scanning electrochemical microscopy. Different treatments of the modified GCE were evaluated to improve the stability of the film and the accumulation of DNA. The guanine oxidation signal of double stranded calf-thymus DNA after 3-min accumulation was 20 times higher at GCE/CHIT-CNT cross-linked with glutaraldehyde (GTA) than at bare GCE, while the peak potential was around 45,mV less positive. The guanine oxidation signal demonstrated to be highly reproducible, with 3.4% RSD for 5 different electrodes. The treatment with sodium hydroxide demonstrated to be not effective since the resulting films were less stable and the guanine oxidation signal was ten times smaller compared to electrodes prepared with the GTA treated films. The effect of chitosan molecular weight used to prepare the dispersion and the amount of carbon nanotubes dispersed were evaluated. The response of single stranded DNA and oligo(dG)15 is also discussed. [source] The Effect of Comorbidity and Socioeconomic Status on Sexual and Urinary Function and on General Health-Related Quality of Life in Men Treated with Radical Prostatectomy for Localized Prostate CancerTHE JOURNAL OF SEXUAL MEDICINE, Issue 4 2008Pierre I. Karakiewicz MD ABSTRACT Introduction., Different treatments for localized prostate cancer (PCa) may be associated with similar overall survival but may demonstrate important differences in health-related quality of life (HRQOL). Therefore, valid interpretation of cancer control outcomes requires adjustment for HRQOL. Aim., To assess the effect of comorbidity and socioeconomic status (SES) on sexual and urinary function as well as general HRQOL in men treated with radical prostatectomy (RP) for PCa. Methods., We sent a self-addressed mail survey, composed of the research and development short form 36-item health survey, the PCa-specific University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) Prostate Cancer Index (PCI), as well as a battery of items addressing SES and lifetime prevalence of comorbidity, to 4,546 men treated with RP in Quebec between 1988 and 1996. Main Outcome Measures., The association between comorbidity, SES, and HRQOL was tested and quantified using univariable and multivariable linear regression models. Results., Survey responses from 2,415 participants demonstrated that comorbidity and SES are strongly related to sexual, urinary, and general HRQOL in univariable and multivariable analyses. In multivariable models, the presence of comorbid conditions was associated with significantly worse HRQOL, as evidenced by lower scale scores by as much as 17/100 points in general domains, and by as much as 10/100 points in PCa-specific domains. Favorable SES characteristics were related to higher general (up to 9/100 points) and higher PCa-specific (up to 8/100 points) HRQOL scale scores. Conclusions., Comorbidity and SES are strongly associated with sexual, urinary and general HRQOL. Karakiewicz PI, Bhojani N, Neugut A, Shariat SF, Jeldres C, Graefen M, Perrotte P, Peloquin F, and Kattan MW. The effect of comorbidity and socioeconomic status on sexual and urinary function and on general health-related quality of life in men treated with radical prostatectomy for localized prostate cancer. J Sex Med 2008;5:919,927. [source] Cross-cultural validation of the Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire (LSEQ) in insomnia patientsHUMAN PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY: CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL, Issue 8 2003Ricardo Tarrasch Abstract The Leeds sleep evaluation questionnaire (LSEQ) is a standardized self-reporting instrument comprising ten 100,mm visual analogue scales that pertain to the ease of getting to sleep (GTS), quality of sleep (QOS), ease of awakening from sleep (AFS) and alertness and behaviour following wakefulness (BFW). Although the LSEQ has been used in a variety of populations, published psychometric data on insomnia patients are limited. The LSEQ reliability and construct validity was evaluated in 396 French insomnia patients aged 55 years and over, who were treated with placebo (2 weeks) and melatonin (3 weeks). The results supported LSEQ internal consistency, reliability and construct validity with minor differences from those of the original English version. Then the internal consistency of the LSEQ was evaluated in 257 insomnia patients (age 20,80 years) in France and Israel who, following a 1 week placebo baseline, were randomized to placebo or melatonin treatment for 3 weeks. Cronbach's , and Pearson's r correlation coefficients for placebo and drug treatment conditions (p<0.001 for all) supported LSEQ internal consistency in different treatment and age groups and in different languages. It is concluded that the consistency, reliability and validity of the four LSEQ domains allows them to be singled out as independent outcome variables in cross cultural sleep research and clinical practice in adult and elderly patients with insomnia. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma of the neckJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 5 2005Rob McFarlane Background:, Myxoinflammatory fibroblastic sarcoma (MIFS), also named inflammatory myxohyaline tumor of distal extremities with virocyte or Reed-Sternberg cells, is a rare tumor typically presenting as a painless mass in the extremities. Patients:, We present an unusual case of MIFS presenting as a subcutaneous neck mass. This is the first reported case of MIFS presenting in the neck. Results:, Therefore, this lesion must be considered in the differential diagnosis for painless subcutaneous masses presenting not only in the distal extremities, but also in the neck. Conclusion:, MIFS has only recently been recognized. The differential diagnosis for MIFS is broad, and it can often be mistaken for several different inflammatory and neoplastic processes, which may require different treatment. [source] Low-grade periductal stromal sarcoma of the breast with myxoid features: ImmunohistochemistryPATHOLOGY INTERNATIONAL, Issue 8 2009Davor Tomas A 52-year-old woman was admitted with a painful right breast tumor measuring more than 20 cm in largest diameter, which ulcerated the overlying skin. The lesion had appeared 4 years previously but the patient hesitated to seek medical care due to ,fear of cancer'. Microscopically, the tumor was composed of spindle cells that formed cuffs around multiple open tubules and ducts set in an abundant, myxoid stroma. The spindle cells had significant atypia with nuclear pleomorphism, occasional cytoplasmic vacuolation and moderate mitotic activity. The ducts and lobules surrounded by the proliferating tumor cells had minimal distortion, with a pericanalicular growth pattern devoid of the phyllodes pattern. The tumor had a multinodular growth pattern with coalesced and individual tumor nodules, the latter being found mostly at the periphery of the lesion. On immunohistochemistry the tumor cells were positive for smooth muscle actin, CD34, and vimentin, and focally positive for CD10. A diagnosis of low-grade periductal stromal sarcoma (PDSS) with myxoid features was established. PDSS is a distinct low-grade breast sarcoma, the appropriate diagnosis of which requires extensive tumor sampling and additional broad immunohistochemistry. PDSS should not be confused with other spindle cell breast tumors because they require different treatment. [source] Diagnostic and pathogenetic implications of the expression of hepatic transporters in focal lesions occurring in normal liverTHE JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Sara Vander Borght Abstract Hepatocellular adenoma and focal nodular hyperplasia (FNH) are benign liver tumours. The differential diagnosis of these lesions and of well- to moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas is often difficult but is very important in view of their different treatment. Although neither type of lesion is connected to the biliary tree, FNHs are cholestatic, whereas this is rarely the case for hepatocellular adenomas. This suggests that hepatocellular uptake and secretion of bile constituents is different in FNHs compared to adenomas. We therefore evaluated the expression and localization of hepatic transporters in hepatocellular adenomas, different types of FNH and well- to moderately differentiated hepatocellular carcinomas in non-cirrhotic liver and compared them with normal liver, using real-time RT-PCR and (semi-)quantitative immunohistochemistry. The parenchymal expression of the uptake transporter OATP2/8 (OATP1B1/3) was minimal or absent in adenoma, while there was strong and diffuse expression in FNH. We observed diffuse parenchymal expression of the basolateral export pump MRP3 in adenomas, while only reactive bile ductules and adjacent cholestatic hepatocytes were MRP3-positive in FNH. The MRP3/OATP2/8 expression pattern of atypical FNHs resembled that of adenomas, suggesting that both types of lesion are related. Most hepatocellular carcinomas showed decreased expression of one or more of the canalicular transporters (MDR1, MDR3, BSEP). The differences in transporter expression profile between FNHs and adenomas are most likely pathogenetically important and may explain why only FNHs are cholestatic. The finding that each type of focal lesion in non-cirrhotic liver has a specific transporter expression pattern may be useful in the establishment of a correct diagnosis by imaging or on needle biopsy. Copyright © 2005 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Superficial bladder tumours: analysis of prognostic factors and construction of a predictive indexBJU INTERNATIONAL, Issue 4 2003B. Ali-El-Dein OBJECTIVES To assess the prognostic factors that could be used to predict tumour recurrence and progression, and to construct and validate a predictive index. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between June 1991 and December 2000, 533 patients (418 men and 115 women; mean age 55.4 years) underwent complete transurethral resection of histologically confirmed pTa and pT1 transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder, after which 377 (test series) were randomized into two subsequent studies, of six groups, to receive adjuvant intravesical sequential bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) and epirubicin, BCG alone, epirubicin (50 or 80 mg), adriamycin 50 mg or no adjuvant therapy. Factors potentially affecting tumour recurrence or progression were assessed using univariate and multivariate analysis, i.e. tumour stage, histological grade, DNA ploidy, history of recurrence, multiplicity, size, tumour configuration, associated carcinoma in situ, recurrence at the first 3-month check cystoscopy and the use of adjuvant therapy. The regression coefficients determined by Cox regression analysis were used to construct a predictive index (PI). The algebraic sum of the regression coefficients of the factors with independent and significant association with disease-free survival for each case represented a proportional hazard score (PHS). The PI was validated in another series of 156 patients (validation series) in whom the same regression coefficients for the same significant factors as the test series were used to categorize it into three risk groups. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were plotted to compare the different risk categories in both test and validation series. RESULTS The mean (sd, range) follow-up in the test and validation series were 58 (19, 5,96) and 28.3 (14.9, 2,94) months, respectively. In the test series, tumour stage, DNA ploidy, multiplicity, history of recurrence, tumour configuration, cystoscopy result and the type of adjuvant therapy had independent significance for recurrence on multivariate analysis. For progression, the cystoscopy result, DNA ploidy and grade were the only independent and significant predictors. The ranges of PHS for the factors affecting recurrence-free and progression-free survival were 0.0,7.14 and 0.0,5.84, respectively, which were divided equally into three risk categories with significant differences on Kaplan-Meier curves and a log-rank test (P < 0.001). The three categories in the validation series were significantly different from each other and each was comparable with that in the test series. CONCLUSIONS Tumour stage, DNA ploidy, multiplicity, history of recurrence, tumour configuration and type of adjuvant therapy affected independently the rate of recurrence after resecting superficial bladder tumour. Recurrence at the 3-month cystoscopy, histological grade and DNA ploidy were the only predictors of progression to muscle-invasion. The PI dividing the patients into three risk groups with different treatment and follow-up strategies for recurrence and progression was reproducible in a validation series. [source] Treatment of major depressive disorder in the Finnish general populationDEPRESSION AND ANXIETY, Issue 11 2009Juha Hämäläinen M.D.M.A. Abstract Background: Few general population studies of the treatment of major depressive disorder (MDD) have included the whole spectrum of treatments. We estimated the rates of different treatments and the effect of individual and disorder characteristics plus provider type on treatment received. Methods: In the Health 2000 Study, a representative sample (n=6,005) from the adult Finnish population (,30 years) were interviewed (CIDI) in 2000,2001 for the presence of DSM-IV mental disorders during the past 12 months. Logistic regression models were used to examine factors influencing the type of treatment: either pharmacotherapies (antidepressants, anxiolytics, sedatives/hypnotics, antipsychotics) or psychological treatment. Results: Of the individuals with MDD (n=288), currently 24% used antidepressants, 11% anxiolytics, 16% sedatives/hypnotics, 5% antipsychotics, and 17% reported having received psychological treatment. Overall, 31% received antidepressants or psychological treatment or both; 18% received minimally adequate treatment. Of those 33% (n=94) using health care services for mental reasons, 76% received antidepressants or psychological treatment or both; 54% received minimal adequate treatment. In logistic regression models, the use of antidepressants was associated with female sex, being single, severe MDD, perceived disability, and comorbid dysthymic disorder; psychological treatment with being divorced, perceived disability, and comorbid anxiety disorder. Conclusions: Due to the low use of health services for mental reasons, only one-third of subjects with MDD use antidepressants, and less than one-fifth receives psychological treatment. The treatments provided are determined mostly by clinical factors such as severity and comorbidity, in part by sex and marital status, but not education or income. Depression and Anxiety 26:1049,1059, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Delayed Wound Healing After Three Different Treatments for Widespread Actinic Keratosis on the Atrophic Bald ScalpDERMATOLOGIC SURGERY, Issue 10 2003Patricia J. F. Quaedvlieg MD Background. Actinic keratosis is an exceedingly common premalignant lesion that can develop into squamous cell carcinoma. There is an increasing prevalence of actinic keratosis with increasing age. Numerous treatment options are available for the treatment of actinic keratosis on the scalp. Although we know that atrophic skin heals slowly, one should be careful but should not hesitate to treat. Objective. We present three patients with widespread actinic keratotic lesions on the atrophic bald scalp who received different treatments. Methods. Patient 1 was treated with medium-depth chemical peel, patient 2 with cryopeel, and patient 3 with CO2 laser resurfacing. In all patients, the entire surface area was treated. Results. Despite the different treatment methods used, all three patients had severly delayed wound healing as a complication. Remarkably, all patients had a prolonged period of re-epithelialization. Conclusion. Care has to be taken in patients with widespread actinic keratosis on the atrophic bald scalp when treating the entire surface area regardless the treatment modality. [source] Ingrown and pincer nails: evaluation and treatmentDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 2 2002E. Haneke Ingrown toenails are mainly a condition of children and young adults, whereas ingrown fingernail and pincer nails are seen in adults. Their etiology is multifactorial. Different types of ingrowing nails require different treatments. Neonatal ones are always treated conservatively. The hypertrophic lateral nail wall seldom requires surgery. Congenital misalignment of the big toenail may resolve spontaneously, but delay in treatment may cause permanent nail dystrophy. The juvenile type is most common and is treated conservatively in its early stages. Selective matrix horn phenolization or excision is the treatment of choice for later stages. Pincer nails are due to widening of the base of the distal phalanx. Treatment is aimed at reducing the outward pressure of the lateral osteophytes on the matrix horns and permanently flattening the nail. A variety of different methods are discussed. [source] Palatal tremor in childhood: clinical and therapeutic considerationsDEVELOPMENTAL MEDICINE & CHILD NEUROLOGY, Issue 12 2006J Campistol-Plana PhD Palatal tremor (PT) is a rhythmic movement of the soft palate that often causes an ear click. PT can be symptomatic (SPT) or essential (EPT). The symptomatic form usually occurs in adults and the essential form mainly occurs in children. Several different treatments for EPT in children appear in the literature with variable reported efficacy. This report details four paediatric patients with EPT (three males, one female; mean age 6y 4mo [SD 6mo]; age at onset 6,7y) treated with piracetam (2-oxo-1-pyrrolidine acetamide). Piracetam was used to treat EPT because of its antimyoclonic properties. All children showed a good response to doses of 100 to 300mg/kg/day. EPT relapsed on withdrawal of piracetam and remitted on reintroduction. Piracetam's effect on EPT was sustained. It is concluded that piracetam is an effective drug for the treatment of EPT in children. [source] Maternal and littermate deprivation disrupts maternal behavior and social-learning of food preference in adulthood: Tactile stimulation, nest odor, and social rearing prevent these effectsDEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOBIOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Angel I. Melo Abstract Maternal and littermate (social) separation, through artificial rearing (AR), disrupts the development of subsequent maternal behavior and social learning in rats. The addition of maternal-licking-like stimulation during AR, partially reverses some of these effects. However, little is know about the role of social stimuli from littermates and nest odors during the preweaning period, in the development of the adult maternal behavior and social learning. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of peer- and peer-and-odor rearing on the development of maternal behavior and social learning in rats. Female pups were reared with mothers (mother reared,MR) or without mothers (AR) from postnatal day (PND) 3. AR rats received three different treatments: (1) AR-CONTROL group received minimal tactile stimulation, (2) AR-ODOR females received exposure to maternal nest material inside the AR-isolation-cup environment, (3) AR-SOCIAL group was reared in the cup with maternal nest material and a conspecific of the same-age and same-sex and received additional tactile stimulation. MR females were reared by their mothers in the nest and with conspecifics. In adulthood, rats were tested for maternal behavior towards their own pups and in a social learning task. Results confirm our previous report that AR impairs performance of maternal behavior and the development of a social food preference. Furthermore, social cues from a littermate, in combination with tactile stimulation and the nest odor, reversed the negative effects of complete isolation (AR-CONTROL) on some of the above behaviors. Exposure to the odor alone also had effects on some of these olfactory-mediated behaviors. These studies indicate that social stimulation from littermates during the preweaning period, in combination with odor from the nest and tactile stimulation, contributes to the development of affiliative behaviors. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Dev Psyshobiol 48: 209,219, 2006. [source] Fluency remediation in dyslexic children: does age make a difference?DYSLEXIA, Issue 2 2008Patrizio E. Tressoldi Abstract This study tested the hypothesis whether older dyslexic children may obtain fewer gains on fluency and accuracy with respect to their younger peers after specific remediation. Changes in accuracy and fluency of a group of children with a diagnosis of dyslexia attending third and fourth grades were compared with those obtained by a group of children attending the sixth, seventh or eighth grade in two different treatments, one based on the Balance model (Bakker) and the second based on the automatization of syllable recognition (sublexical). Among all comparisons between the gains in accuracy and fluency obtained by the two groups, only the younger group in the sublexical treatment obtained a statistically significant gain with respect to their older peers' accuracy in reading words. These outcomes suggest that, at least for the chronological ages and types of treatments considered in this study, older children with dyslexia may obtain comparable gains to their younger peers, suggesting that ,it is never too late' to remediate reading fluency and accuracy. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Being a generalist herbivore in a diverse world: how do diets from different grasslands influence food plant selection and fitness of the grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus?ECOLOGICAL ENTOMOLOGY, Issue 2 2010ALEXANDRA FRANZKE 1. Generalist insect herbivores occupy a variety of habitats that differ in food plant composition. Dietary mixing has been proposed as a possibility for generalists to overcome nutritional deficiencies of single plant species, but only a few studies have investigated herbivore feeding and fitness for diets that resemble natural scenarios. We studied feeding behaviour, survival, and reproduction of the generalist grasshopper Chorthippus parallelus raised on food plants of four typical habitats. 2. Grasshopper diet consisted of grasses (92.5%), legumes (6.7%) and, in small quantities, other forbs (0.8%). Diet selection differed between the four food plant mixtures, and depended on grasshopper sex and developmental stage. There was no correlation between the relative abundance of plant species in the field and the fraction of these species in the grasshopper diet. 3. Grasshoppers survived on average for 40.4 ± 1.0 days before maturity, grew 106.8 mg until maturity moult, and females laid 4.1 ± 0.4 egg pods, each of which contained 8.5 ± 0.4 eggs. However, despite the differences in feeding behaviour, grasshopper fitness was the same in all of the four food plant mixtures. While the digestibility of ingested food was similar in the four different treatments, indices indicated differences in the conversion efficiency to body mass. 4. Our results show that C. parallelus is a plastic feeder with no fixed preferences in diet composition. The results emphasise that generalist herbivores can counteract putative quality deficiencies of single food plants by selective dietary mixing. [source] Comparing retention in treatment and mortality in people after initial entry to methadone and buprenorphine treatmentADDICTION, Issue 7 2009James Bell ABSTRACT Aim To compare retention in treatment and mortality among people entering methadone and buprenorphine treatment for opioid dependence. Data sources The Pharmaceutical Drugs of Abuse System (PHDAS) database records start- and end-dates of all episodes of methadone and buprenorphine treatment in New South Wales, and the National Death Index (NDI) records all reported deaths. Methods Data linkage study. First entrants to treatment between June 2002 and June 2006 were identified from the PHDAS database. Retention in treatment was compared between methadone and buprenorphine. Names were linked to the NDI database, and ,good matches' were identified. Deaths were classified as occurring during induction, maintenance and either post-methadone or post-buprenorphine, depending on the latest episode of treatment prior to death. The numbers of inductions into treatment, of total person-years spent in each treatment, and person-years post-methadone or buprenorphine, were calculated. Risk of death in different periods, and different treatments, was analysed using Poisson regression. Results A total of 5992 people entered their first episode of treatment,3349 (56%) on buprenorphine, 2643 on methadone. Median retention was significantly longer in methadone (271 days) than buprenorphine (40 days). During induction, the risk of death was lower for buprenorphine (relative risk = 0.114, 95% confidence interval = 0.002,0.938, P = 0.02, Fisher's exact test). Risk of death was lowest during treatment, significantly higher in the first 12 months after leaving both methadone and buprenorphine. Beyond 12 months after leaving treatment, risk of death was non-significantly higher than during treatment. Conclusions Buprenorphine was safer during induction. Despite shorter retention in treatment, buprenorphine maintenance was not associated with higher risk of death. [source] Abundance and composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing archaea communities of an alkaline sandy loamENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Ju-pei Shen Summary The abundance and composition of soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) communities under different long-term (17 years) fertilization practices were investigated using real-time polymerase chain reaction and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). A sandy loam with pH (H2O) ranging from 8.3 to 8.7 was sampled in years 2006 and 2007, including seven fertilization treatments of control without fertilizers (CK), those with combinations of fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K): NP, NK, PK and NPK, half chemical fertilizers NPK plus half organic manure (1/2OMN) and organic manure (OM). The highest bacterial amoA gene copy numbers were found in those treatments receiving N fertilizer. The archaeal amoA gene copy numbers ranging from 1.54 × 107 to 4.25 × 107 per gram of dry soil were significantly higher than those of bacterial amoA genes, ranging from 1.24 × 105 to 2.79 × 106 per gram of dry soil, which indicated a potential role of AOA in nitrification. Ammonia-oxidizing bacteria abundance had significant correlations with soil pH and potential nitrification rates. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis patterns revealed that the fertilization resulted in an obvious change of the AOB community, while no significant change of the AOA community was observed among different treatments. Phylogenetic analysis showed a dominance of Nitrosospira -like sequences, while three bands were affiliated with the Nitrosomonas genus. All AOA sequences fell within cluster S (soil origin) and cluster M (marine and sediment origin). These results suggest that long-term fertilization had a significant impact on AOB abundance and composition, while minimal on AOA in the alkaline soil. [source] Quantitative analyses of the abundance and composition of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria and ammonia-oxidizing archaea of a Chinese upland red soil under long-term fertilization practicesENVIRONMENTAL MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 9 2007Ji-zheng He Summary The abundance and composition of soil ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) were investigated by using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction, cloning and sequencing approaches based on amoA genes. The soil, classified as agri-udic ferrosols with pH (H2O) ranging from 3.7 to 6.0, was sampled in summer and winter from long-term field experimental plots which had received 16 years continuous fertilization treatments, including fallow (CK0), control without fertilizers (CK) and those with combinations of fertilizer nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K): N, NP, NK, PK, NPK and NPK plus organic manure (OM). Population sizes of AOB and AOA changed greatly in response to the different fertilization treatments. The NPK + OM treatment had the highest copy numbers of AOB and AOA amoA genes among the treatments that received mineral fertilizers, whereas the lowest copy numbers were recorded in the N treatment. Ammonia-oxidizing archaea were more abundant than AOB in all the corresponding treatments, with AOA to AOB ratios ranging from 1.02 to 12.36. Significant positive correlations were observed among the population sizes of AOB and AOA, soil pH and potential nitrification rates, indicating that both AOB and AOA played an important role in ammonia oxidation in the soil. Phylogenetic analyses of the amoA gene fragments showed that all AOB sequences from different treatments were affiliated with Nitrosospira or Nitrosospira- like species and grouped into cluster 3, and little difference in AOB community composition was recorded among different treatments. All AOA sequences fell within cluster S (soil origin) and cluster M (marine and sediment origin). Cluster M dominated exclusively in the N, NP, NK and PK treatments, indicating a pronounced difference in the community composition of AOA in response to the long-term fertilization treatments. These findings could be fundamental to improve our understanding of the importance of both AOB and AOA in the cycling of nitrogen and other nutrients in terrestrial ecosystems. [source] Transfer and efflux of cadmium and silver in marine snails and fish fed pre-exposed mussel preyENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 6 2007Ma-Shan Cheung Abstract Subcellular metal distribution may play an important role in the bioaccumulation and trophic transfer of metals in marine food chains. In the present study, we preexposed the green mussel Perna viridis to Ag and Cd and quantified their trophic transfer efficiencies to two predators (whelks [Thais clavigera] and fish [Terapon jarbua]). For the mussels, more Ag was distributed in the metal-rich granule (MRG) fraction following Ag exposure, and more Cd was distributed in the metallothionein-like protein following Cd exposure. In addition, Cd was mainly bound with the proteins having a molecular size of approximately 20 kDa. After being fed with metal-exposed mussels, the assimilation efficiencies of Ag decreased significantly (from 77 to 29,60% in whelks and from 9 to 2% in fish) with an increasing percentage of Ag deposited in the MRG fraction of the prey. In contrast, the assimilation efficiencies of Cd remained comparable (81,85% in whelks and 6,8% in fish), because its partitioning in the soluble fraction of different treatments of the prey was similar. The efflux of Ag and Cd in the two predators was comparable after feeding on preexposed mussel prey. Our results imply that the subcellular distribution of metals in prey may affect the dietary assimilation of metals in predators, but such influence is clearly metal-specific. The present study may lead to a better understanding of metal trophic transfer in different marine food chains. [source] Comparison of Intrinsic Optical Signals Associated with Low Mg2+, and 4-Aminopyridine,Induced Seizure-Like Events Reveals Characteristic Features in Adult Rat Limbic SystemEPILEPSIA, Issue 6 2000Katharina Buchheim Summary: Purpose: To analyze the intrinsic optical signal change associated with seizure-like events in two frequently used in vitro models,the low-Mg2+ and the 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) models,and to monitor regions of onset and spread patterns of these discharges by using imaging of intrinsic optical signals (IOS). Methods: Combined hippocampal,entorhinal,cortex slices of adult rats were exposed to two different treatments: lowering extracellular Mg2+ concentrations or application of 100 ,M 4-AP. The electrographic features of the discharges were monitored using extracellular microelectrodes. Optical imaging was achieved by infrared transillumination of the slice and analysis of changes in light transmission using a subtraction approach. The electrographic features were compared with the optical changes. Regions of onset and spread patterns were analyzed in relevant anatomic regions of the slice. Results: Both lowering extracellular Mg2+ concentrations and application of 4-AP induced seizure-like events. The relative duration of the intrinsic optical signal change associated with seizure-like events in the low-Mg2+ model was significantly longer compared with that seen with those occurring in the 4-AP model, although duration of field potentials did not differ significantly in the two models. Seizure-like events of the low-Mg2+ model originated predominantly in the entorhinal cortex, with subsequent propagation toward the subiculum and neocortical structures. In contrast, no consistent region of onset or spread patterns were seen in the 4-AP model, indicating that the seizure initiation is not confined to a particular region in this model. Conclusions: We conclude that different forms of spontaneous epileptiform activity are associated with characteristic optical signal changes and that optical imaging represents an excellent method to assess regions of seizure onset and spread patterns. [source] Sedation with detomidine and acepromazine influences the endoscopic evaluation of laryngeal function in horsesEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2007C. Lindegaard Summary Reasons for performing study: Endoscopy of the upper airways of horses is used as a diagnostic tool and at purchase examinations. On some occasions it is necessary to use sedation during the procedure and it is often speculated that the result of the examination might be influenced due to the muscle-relaxing properties of the most commonly used sedatives. Objectives: To evaluate the effect of detomidine (0.01 mg/kg bwt) and acepromazine (0.05 mg/kg bwt) on the appearance of symmetry of rima glottidis, ability to abduct maximally the arytenoid cartilages and the effect on recurrent laryngeal neuropathy (RLN) grade. Methods: Forty-two apparently normal horses underwent endoscopic examination of the upper airways on 3 different occasions, under the influence of 3 different treatments: no sedation (control), sedation with detomidine and sedation with acepromazine. All examinations were performed with a minimum of one week apart. The study was performed as an observer-blind cross-over study. Results: Sedation with detomidine had a significant effect on the RLN grading (OR = 2.91) and ability maximally to abduct the left arytenoid cartilages (OR = 2.91). Sedation with acepromazine resulted in OR = 2.43 for the RLN grading and OR = 2.22 for the ability to abduct maximally. The ability to abduct maximally the right arytenoid cartilage was not altered. Conclusions: Sedating apparently healthy horses with detomidine or acepromazine significantly impairs these horses' ability to abduct fully the left but not the right arytenoid cartilage. This resulted in different diagnosis with respect to RLN when comparing sedation to no sedation. Potential relevance: Since the ability to abduct the right arytenoid cartilage fully is not altered by sedation, it is speculated that horses changing from normal to abnormal laryngeal function when sedated, might be horses in an early stage of the disease. To confirm or reject these speculations, further studies are needed. Until then sedation during endoscopy should be used with care. [source] User satisfaction with services in a randomised controlled trial of adolescent anorexia nervosaEUROPEAN EATING DISORDERS REVIEW, Issue 5 2009Peter Roots Abstract Background User satisfaction is a neglected outcome in adolescent anorexia nervosa especially since the relative effectiveness of different treatments is unclear. It may also affect clinical outcome. Aims To assess young person's and parents' satisfaction with CAMHS outpatient, specialist outpatient and inpatient treatment received in a large randomised controlled trial. Method Quantitative and qualitative analysis of questionnaire data from 215 young people and their parents followed by focus groups to further explore emerging themes. Results High levels of satisfaction were reported, more amongst parents than young people and with specialist services. Both young people and carers strongly valued clinical relationships that involved being listened to and understood. They valued the expertise of specialist rather than generic CAMHS services. There were polarised views on the influence of other young people in inpatient units. Parents in particular valued support for themselves, both from professionals and other parents and felt this, and sibling support was lacking. Conclusions All comprehensive CAMH services are able to provide the good generic psychotherapeutic skills that parents and young people value so highly. However, generic CAMHS struggle to provide the demanded level of expertise and more specialised individual and family therapeutic interventions. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and Eating Disorders Association. [source] Production and clearance of cyclobutane dipyrimidine dimers in UV-irradiated skin pretreated with 1% pimecrolimus or 0.1% triamcinolone acetonide creams in normal and atopic patientsEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 5 2006Laurence Doelker Background:, Ultraviolet (UV)-induced pyrimidine dimers are an early step in skin carcinogenesis, which is accelerated in the setting of long-term immunosuppression with systemic calcineurin inhibitors. It is not known whether topical application of calcineurin inhibitors exposes to a similar risk. Objective:, To assess the formation and clearance of UV-induced dipyrimidine dimers in human epidermis treated with topical pimecrolimus as compared to topical steroid, vehicle and untreated control. Methods:, Pretreated buttock skin of 20 human volunteers with (10) or without (10) atopic dermatitis was exposed to two minimal erythema doses (MED) of simulated solar radiation. DNA was extracted from epidermis 1 and 24 h postirradiation. Pyrimidine dimers were visualized by immuno slot blots and quantified by chemoluminescence image analysis. Results:, One-hour postirradiation, pimecrolimus-treated epidermis contains less DNA damage as compared to untreated control, but there were no statistically significant differences between pimecrolimus, triamcinolone acetonide and vehicle. Dimer levels at 24 h postirradiation showed no significant differences between different treatments. Conclusion:, Treatment with pimecrolimus cream, triamcinolone acetonide cream and vehicle is not associated with increased epidermal DNA damage at 1 and 24 h post-UV exposure. [source] Topical treatment with thiazolidinediones, activators of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-,, normalizes epidermal homeostasis in a murine hyperproliferative disease modelEXPERIMENTAL DERMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2006Marianne Demerjian Abstract:, In a murine model of epidermal hyperplasia reproducing some of the abnormalities of several common skin disorders, we previously demonstrated the antiproliferative and pro-differentiating effects of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR),, PPAR,/,, and liver X receptor activators. Unlike other subgroups of PPAR activators, thiazolidinediones (TZDs), a family of PPAR, ligands, did not inhibit keratinocyte proliferation in normal murine skin. Here, we studied the effects of two TZDs, namely ciglitazone (10 mM) and troglitazone (1 mM), in the same murine model where epidermal hyperproliferation was reproduced by repeated barrier abrogation with tape stripping. Topical treatment with ciglitazone and troglitazone resulted in a marked and significant decrease in epidermal thickness. Furthermore, in all TZD-treated groups, we observed a significant decrease in keratinocyte proliferation using proliferating cell nuclear antigen, 5-bromo-2,-deoxyuridine, and tritiated thymidine incorporation. However, using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end-labeling assay, we found no difference in apoptosis between different treatments, emphasizing that it is the antiproliferative role of these activators that accounts for the decrease of epidermal thickness. Finally, using immunohistochemical methods, we determined the effects of ciglitazone on keratinocyte differentiation in this hyperproliferative model. We observed an increased expression of involucrin and filaggrin following ciglitazone treatment, suggesting a pro-differentiating action of TZDs in this model. In summary, topical TZDs significantly reduce epidermal keratinocyte proliferation while promoting differentiation in a murine model of hyperproliferative epidermis. Together, these results suggest that in addition to their metabolic effects currently in use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, topical TZDs could be considered as potential alternative therapeutic agents in hyperproliferative skin diseases such as psoriasis. [source] Microbial community dynamics in nutrient-pulsed chemostatsFEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 1 2006Militza Carrero-Colón Abstract In nature, microbes are subject to nutrient fluxes. As the periodicity of nutrient flux lengthens, different physiological traits may be selected. The competitive exclusion principle stipulates that one organism will dominate these systems; however, interspecies interactions may produce a dynamic microbial community. These issues were investigated in chemostats pulsed with gelatin. Chemostats were run over 30 days with substrate addition continuously or at intervals of 0.5, 1 or 3 days. Growth rates were similar between pulse intervals. Ectoaminopeptidase activity levels remained relatively constant within a pulse interval. Bacterial community structure was monitored using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of PCR products of the 16S rRNA gene. There were dynamic changes at all periodicities; however, the pace of these changes decreased over time. Final communities were not identical between different treatments. The structure of persistent vs. active microbial populations was compared by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis of the PCR and reverse transcriptase-PCR amplicons of 16S rDNA and rRNA templates, respectively. For all the chemostats, the rRNA profiles were not identical to the rDNA profiles for a sample. These experiments demonstrate that complex community dynamics can occur under environmental heterogeneities that are modest relative to those found in natural aquatic habitats. Furthermore, the physiological functionality of these dynamic communities was stable. [source] Structure and activity of the nitrate-reducing community in the rhizosphere of Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens under long-term elevated atmospheric pCO2FEMS MICROBIOLOGY ECOLOGY, Issue 3 2004Kathrin Deiglmayr Abstract Rhizosphere soil was sampled in monocultures of Lolium perenne and Trifolium repens in June and October 2002, at two different nitrogen fertilisation levels (14 and 56 g N m,2 year,1) and under two pCO2 atmospheres (360 and 600 ppmv) at the Swiss FACE (Free Air Carbon dioxide Enrichment) site. Directly extracted soil DNA was analysed with restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) by use of degenerated primers for the narG gene encoding the active site of the membrane-bound nitrate reductase. The corresponding enzyme activity of the nitrate reductase was determined colorimetrically after 24 h of anaerobic incubation. The narG PCR-RFLP fingerprints showed that the structure of the nitrate-reducing community was primarily affected by season and pH of the sampling site, whereas CO2 enrichment, plant species or fertiliser treatment had no apparent effect. In contrast, the nitrate reductase activity responded to N fertilisation, CO2 enrichment and plant species in October, whereas in June drought stress most likely kept the enzyme activity at a low level in all treatments. Apparently, the respiratory nitrate-reducing community adapted to different treatments primarily by altered enzyme activity. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||