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Potential Clinical Significance (potential + clinical_significance)
Selected AbstractsFibre types in skeletal muscle: a personal accountACTA PHYSIOLOGICA, Issue 4 2010S. Schiaffino Abstract Muscle performance is in part dictated by muscle fibre composition and a precise understanding of the genetic and acquired factors that determine the fibre type profile is important in sport science, but is also relevant to neuromuscular diseases and to metabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes. The dissection of the signalling pathways that determine or modulate the muscle fibre phenotype has thus potential clinical significance. In this brief review, I examine the evolution of the notion of muscle fibre types, discuss some aspects related to species differences, point at problems in the interpretation of transgenic and knockout models and show how in vivo transfection can be used to identify regulatory factors involved in fibre type diversification, focusing on the calcineurin-nuclear factor of activated T cells (NFAT) pathway. [source] Scintigraphic examination of the cartilages of the footEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 3 2007A. NAGY Summary Reasons for performing study: Radiographic examination of the cartilages of the foot is well documented; however, there is limited information about their scintigraphic assessment. Objectives: To evaluate the scintigraphic appearance of the cartilages of the foot using subjective and quantitative image analysis and to correlate radiographic and scintigraphic findings. Hypotheses: An ossified cartilage would have similar radiopharmaceutical uptake (RU) to the ipsilateral aspect of the distal phalanx; RU would extend throughout the length of the ossified cartilage; a separate centre of ossification (SCO) would be identified on a scintigraphic image; and fracture or trauma to an ossified cartilage would manifest as increased RU (IRU). Methods: Front feet (n = 223) of horses (n = 186) that had dorsopalmar radiographic views and dorsal scintigraphic images were included in the study. The cartilages of the foot were graded radiographically and scintigraphically. Quantitative evaluation of the scintigraphic images was carried out using region of interest (ROI) analysis. For statistical analysis RU ratios were used. Correlations between a radiographically detected SCO and focal RU and between IRU and radiographic abnormalities were assessed. Results: There was a good correlation and an excellent agreement between radiographic and scintigraphic grades. ROI analysis showed a proximal to distal increase in RU ratios within each cartilage of the foot. A radiographically identified SCO could be detected scintigraphically in 12/17 feet (70.6%). Thirty-eight feet had IRU in the region of a cartilage, 25 of which (65.8%) had corresponding radiographic abnormalities. Fracture of an ossified cartilage was associated with IRU in all horses. Conclusions and potential relevance: Scintigraphy may give information about the potential clinical significance of ossification of the cartilages of the foot and associated lesions, therefore prompting further investigation by use of a uniaxial ipsilateral palmar nerve block and imaging, using either magnetic resonance imaging and/or computed tomography. [source] Community pharmacists' identification of natural health product/drug interactions in older personsINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PHARMACY PRACTICE, Issue 4 2003Ruby E. Grymonpre professor ABSTRACT Objective To document the prevalence and significance of potential natural health products (NHPs)/prescribed drug interactions in a sample of older adults; to determine whether community pharmacists detected these drug interactions; and to characterise users and non-users of NHPs. Setting The project involved 15 community pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care to 213 non-institutionalised older adults. Method The study was a subanalysis of a prospective, non-randomised, before-and-after trial of the provision of pharmaceutical care. Pharmacists documented each time medication-specific information or advice was provided to subjects. The numbers and types of NHPs that clients reported taking and the number of potentially significant NHP/prescribed drug interactions were determined. Whether pharmacists identified such drug interactions and made the necessary interventions were also documented. Results Forty-two NHPs were reported 96 times by 49 (23%) clients, most commonly glucosamine (n = 10), garlic (n = 10), prune juice (n = 9), and Ginkgo biloba (n = 6). There was a total of 446 possible NHP/prescribed drug combinations in the 49 clients, of which 53 (12%) were considered to be of potential clinical significance. Of these 53 combinations, three pharmacists identified four (8%) potential interactions in three different patients. Although gender, mean age and number of reported medical conditions did not differ between users and non-users of NHPs, users reported taking fewer prescribed drugs compared with non-users (5.0 ± 3.2 vs 6.0 ± 2.9, respectively, P = 0.043) and more non-prescribed drugs (4.2 ± 2.5 vs 2.1 ± 2.0, respectively, P < 0.0001). Conclusion The reported prevalence of NHP and the potential for NHP/prescribed drug interactions in our sample of older adults were high. Pharmacists providing pharmaceutical care did not commonly identify potentially significant NHP/prescribed drug interactions. [source] Efficacy of Listerine® Antiseptic in reducing viral contamination of salivaJOURNAL OF CLINICAL PERIODONTOLOGY, Issue 4 2005Timothy F. Meiller Abstract Aim: The anti-viral efficacy of oral antimicrobial rinses has not been adequately studied in terms of potential clinical significance. As a follow-up to an in vitro study on the effect of oral antiseptics on Herpes simplex virus, Type 1, this study was undertaken to evaluate the in vivo effect of an essential oil containing oral antiseptic on the reduction of viral titer in saliva during active viral infection. Method: Patients were recruited and evaluated in a single visit protocol at the onset of a perioral outbreak, consistent historically and clinically with recurrent Herpes labialis. Direct immunofluorescence of cytological smears of the lesions/oral fluids was used to confirm Herpes simplex virus types I or II. Patients were randomly assigned to one of two treatment groups: (1) active ingredient and (2) sterile water control. The viral lesion was evaluated as to clinical stage according to standard protocol. Salivary fluid samples were taken: (1) at baseline; (2) immediately following a 30 s rinse; (3) 30 min. after the 30 s rinse; and (4) on the repeat trial, also at 60 min. after the 30 s rinse. All samples were evaluated for viral titer and results compared. Results: In Trial 1, the sample population consisted of 19 males and 21 females with an average age of 29.2 and in Trial 2, 21 males, 19 females with an average age of 28. In both Trials 1 and 2, recoverable infectious virions were reduced to zero after a 30 s experimental rinse; whereas, the control rinse resulted in a non-significant (p>0.05) reduction. The experimental group also demonstrated a continued significant (p<0.05) reduction 30 min. post rinse when compared with baseline while the control group returned to baseline levels. In Trial 2, the 60 min. post rinse follow-up demonstrated a 1,2 log residual reduction from baseline in the experimental group; however, this was not significant. Conclusions: There is clinical efficacy in utilizing an oral rinse with the antimicrobial agent Listerine® Antiseptic in reducing the presence of viral contamination in oral fluids for at least 30 min. after oral rinse. The risk of viral cross contamination generated from these oral fluids in person to person contact or during dental treatment may be reduced. [source] Fibrillar IgA deposition in dermatitis herpetiformis , an underreported pattern with potential clinical significanceJOURNAL OF CUTANEOUS PATHOLOGY, Issue 4 2010Christine J. Ko Dermatitis herpetiformis has characteristic clinical and histopathologic findings. A fibrillar pattern of IgA deposition on direct immunofluorescence in dermatitis herpetiformis is underreported. Here, we describe three patients with the fibrillar pattern of IgA deposition on direct immunofluorescence examination that initially misled diagnosis in one of the three. Interestingly, two of the three patients lacked anti-transglutaminase and anti-endomysial antibodies but had a clinical course typical of dermatitis herpetiformis. Dermatitis herpetiformis may have a fibrillar rather than granular pattern of IgA deposition on direct immunofluorescent microscopy, and patients with this pattern of immunoglobulin deposition may lack circulating autoantibodies. Ko CJ, Colegio OR, Moss JE, McNiff JM. Fibrillar IgA deposition in dermatitis herpetiformis,an underreported pattern with potential clinical significance. [source] The assessment of topical nasal drug distributionCLINICAL OTOLARYNGOLOGY, Issue 3 2004R. Aggarwal The mainstay of treatment of chronic rhinosinusitis is through the administration of topical nasal drugs. The delivery and intranasal distribution of these is therefore of potential clinical significance. Until there is progress in the nasal drug distribution assessment methodology, it will be difficult to improve topical nasal drug delivery, which is known to be suboptimal in many ways. This study reviews intranasal drug delivery assessment methods, the present knowledge and explores future directions for research. [source] | ||||||||||