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Useful Information (useful + information)
Selected AbstractsDisseminating Useful Information to Professionals about Child and Adolescent Mental Health: Survey of Readers' ViewsCHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 1 2002Stephen Scott [source] Useful information for the non-medical readerPRACTICAL DIABETES INTERNATIONAL (INCORPORATING CARDIABETES), Issue 1 2003Sue Cradock Consultant Nurse No abstract is available for this article. [source] The management of heparin-induced thrombocytopeniaBRITISH JOURNAL OF HAEMATOLOGY, Issue 3 2006David Keeling Abstract The Haemostasis and Thrombosis Task Force of the British Committee for Standards in Haematology has produced a concise practical guideline to highlight the key issues in the management of heparin-induced thrombocytopenia (HIT) for the practicing physician in the UK. The guideline is evidence-based and levels of evidence are included in the body of the article. All patients who are to receive heparin of any sort should have a platelet count on the day of starting treatment. For patients who have been exposed to heparin in the last 100 d, a baseline platelet count and a platelet count 24 h after starting heparin should be obtained. For all patients receiving unfractionated heparin (UFH), alternate day platelet counts should be performed from days 4 to 14. For surgical and medical patients receiving low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH) platelet counts should be performed every 2,4 d from days 4 to 14. Obstetric patients receiving treatment doses of LMWH should have platelet counts performed every 2,4 d from days 4 to 14. Obstetric patients receiving prophylactic LMWH are at low risk and do not need routine platelet monitoring. If the platelet count falls by 50% or more, or falls below the laboratory normal range and/or the patient develops new thrombosis or skin allergy between days 4 and 14 of heparin administration HIT should be considered and a clinical assessment made. If the pretest probability of HIT is high, heparin should be stopped and an alternative anticoagulant started at full dosage unless there are significant contraindications while laboratory tests are performed. Platelet activation assays using washed platelets have a higher sensitivity than platelet aggregation assays but are technically demanding and their use should be restricted to laboratories experienced in the technique. Non-expert laboratories should use an antigen-based assay of high sensitivity. Only IgG class antibodies need to be measured. Useful information is gained by reporting the actual optical density, inhibition by high concentrations of heparin, and the cut-off value for a positive test rather than simply reporting the test as positive or negative. In making a diagnosis of HIT the clinician's estimate of the pretest probability of HIT together with the type of assay used and its quantitative result (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, ELISA, only) should be used to determine the overall probability of HIT. Clinical decisions should be made following consideration of the risks and benefits of treatment with an alternative anticoagulant. For patients with strongly suspected or confirmed HIT, heparin should be stopped and full-dose anticoagulation with an alternative, such as lepirudin or danaparoid, commenced (in the absence of a significant contraindication). Warfarin should not be used until the platelet count has recovered. When introduced in combination with warfarin, an alternative anticoagulant must be continued until the International Normalised Ratio (INR) is therapeutic for two consecutive days. Platelets should not be given for prophylaxis. Lepirudin, at doses adjusted to achieve an activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) ratio of 1·5,2·5, reduces the risk of reaching the composite endpoint of limb amputation, death or new thrombosis in patients with HIT and HIT with thrombosis (HITT). The risk of major haemorrhage is directly related to the APTT ratio, lepirudin levels and serum creatinine levels. The patient's renal function needs to be taken into careful consideration before treatment with lepirudin is commenced. Severe anaphylaxis occurs rarely in recipients of lepirudin and is more common in previously exposed patients. Danaparoid in a high-dose regimen is equivalent to lepirudin in the treatment of HIT and HITT. Danaparoid at prophylactic doses is not recommended for the treatment of HIT or HITT. Patients with previous HIT who are antibody negative (usually so after >100 d) who require cardiac surgery should receive intraoperative UFH in preference to other anticoagulants that are less validated for this purpose. Pre- and postoperative anticoagulation should be with an anticoagulant other than UFH or LMWH. Patients with recent or active HIT should have the need for surgery reviewed and delayed until the patient is antibody negative if possible. They should then proceed as above. If deemed appropriate early surgery should be carried out with an alternative anticoagulant. We recommend discussion of these complex cases requiring surgery with an experienced centre. The diagnosis must be clearly recorded in the patient's medical record. [source] Parental Perceptions of the Assessment of Autistic Spectrum Disorders in a Tier Three ServiceCHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH, Issue 3 2009Latha Hackett Background:, Little is known about the satisfaction of the parents of children receiving child and adolescent mental health services in general, and autistic spectrum services in particular. Method:, This audit examined parent and carer perceptions of the Autistic Spectrum Disorder assessments undertaken by the multi-agency team in a Tier Three CAMHS in Manchester. Forty families completed a brief questionnaire. Results:, The majority of parents and carers reported satisfaction with the service (95%), although responses highlighted areas in both the assessment process and the service facilities that needed improvement. Conclusions:, Useful information with both local and national applications can be gathered quickly in an easily replicated manner. [source] A computer-based free body diagram assistantCOMPUTER APPLICATIONS IN ENGINEERING EDUCATION, Issue 4 2006Robert J. Roselli Abstract We developed an online Free Body Diagram (FBD) Assistant that allows students to construct 2-D FBDs and to receive constructive feedback for a wide range of practice problems. The system's architecture allows for interoperability between learning management systems and interactive student simulations designed to improve both learning and assessment. The system gathers useful information about students' decision processes as they construct FBDs. This information can be used with a diagnostic module we have developed to reliably, and dynamically, construct appropriate feedback that is specific to the diagram submitted by the student. Students use this asynchronous system to gain practice in constructing FBDs at their own pace, and their records can be analyzed to indicate progress over time. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Comput Appl Eng Educ 14: 281,290, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com); DOI 10.1002/cae.20088 [source] Market Response to Earnings Surprises Conditional on Reasons for an Auditor Change,CONTEMPORARY ACCOUNTING RESEARCH, Issue 2 2002Karl E. Hackenbrack Abstract Our interest in this study is the relative informativeness of earnings announcements reported before and after Form 8-K disclosures of the reason for an auditor change. We appeal to several models that predict that the market's response to an earnings surprise is positively related to the perceived precision of the earnings report. We predict that the Form 8-K reason disclosures aid investors in updating their expectations of earnings precision by providing useful information about the financial reporting process that produces the earnings report. For 802 auditor changes from late 1991 through late 1997, the average price response per unit of earnings surprise is lower subsequent to an auditor change for companies that switched for disagreement-related or fee-related reasons and higher for those that switched for service-related reasons. This paper provides further evidence on the effects of differential earnings quality on differences in the returns-earnings relation across companies and over time as well as the efficacy of Form 8-K disclosures of reasons for auditor changes. [source] Guidelines for improving the reproducibility of quantitative multiparameter immunofluorescence measurements by laser scanning cytometry on fixed cell suspensions from human solid tumorsCYTOMETRY, Issue 1 2006Stanley Shackney Abstract Background: Laser scanning Cytometry (LSC) is a versatile technology that makes it possible to perform multiple measurements on individual cells and correlate them cell by cell with other cellular features. It would be highly desirable to be able to perform reproducible, quantitative, correlated cell-based immunofluorescence studies on individual cells from human solid tumors. However, such studies can be challenging because of the presence of large numbers of cell aggregates and other confounding factors. Techniques have been developed to deal with cell aggregates in data sets collected by LSC. Experience has also been gained in addressing other key technical and methodological issues that can affect the reproducibility of such cell-based immunofluorescence measurements. Methods and results: We describe practical aspects of cell sample collection, cell fixation and staining, protocols for performing multiparameter immunofluorescence measurements by LSC, use of controls and reference samples, and approaches to data analysis that we have found useful in improving the accuracy and reproducibility of LSC data obtained in human tumor samples. We provide examples of the potential advantages of LSC in examining quantitative aspects of cell-based analysis. Improvements in the quality of cell-based multiparameter immunofluorescence measurements make it possible to extract useful information from relatively small numbers of cells. This, in turn, permits the performance of multiple multicolor panels on each tumor sample. With links among the different panels that are provided by overlapping measurements, it is possible to develop increasingly more extensive profiles of intracellular expression of multiple proteins in clinical samples of human solid tumors. Examples of such linked panels of measurements are provided. Conclusions: Advances in methodology can improve cell-based multiparameter immunofluorescence measurements on cell suspensions from human solid tumors by LSC for use in prognostic and predictive clinical applications. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Dermoscopy provides useful information for the management of melanonychia striataDERMATOLOGIC THERAPY, Issue 1 2007Luc Thomas ABSTRACT:, The diagnosis of melanonychia striata is often difficult, and a biopsy of the nail matrix is required in doubtful cases. However, dermoscopic examination of the nail plate offers interesting information in order to better select the cases in which pathologic examination is indicated. In the case of brown longitudinal pigmentation with parallel regular lines, the diagnosis of nail apparatus melanocytic nevus could be made. On the other hand, the presence of a brown pigmentation overlaid by longitudinal lines irregular in their thickness, spacing, color, or parallelism is highly in favor of a melanoma. Gray homogeneous lines are observed in case of lentigo, lentiginoses, ethnic or drug-induced pigmentations, and in post-traumatic pigmentations. Blood spots are characterized by their round-shaped proximal edge and their filamentous distal edge and are highly suggestive of subungual hemorrhages. Dermoscopic examination of the free edge of the nail plate gives information on the lesion location; pigmentation of the dorsum of the nail plate is in favor of a proximal nail matrix lesion, whereas pigmentation the lower part of the nail edge is in favor of a lesion of the distal matrix. [source] MANAGEMENT OF OBSCURE GASTROINTESTINAL BLEEDING BASED ON THE CLASSIFICATION OF CAPSULE ENDOSCOPIC BLEEDING FINDINGSDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 3 2010Mitsunori Maeda Background:, Double-balloon endoscopy (DBE) and capsule endoscopy (CE) have been useful in managing obscure gastrointestinal bleeding (OGIB). However, DBE is invasive, complex and time-consuming, therefore indications should probably be selective. The aim of this study was to evaluate the usefulness of the classification of the CE bleeding findings for determining the indications and timing of DBE in patients with OGIB. Methods:, From February 2003 to January 2009, 123 patients with OGIB who underwent CE were included in this study. These CE findings were classified based on the bleeding source. Type CE-I, II, III, IV and 0 indicate active bleeding, previous bleeding, lesions without active bleeding, a lesion outside of the small bowel, and no findings, respectively. We compared diagnostic yield and outcome between the classification and the findings of DBE or enteroclysis. Results:, Comparisons of the positive findings rate with DBE or enteroclysis, the treatment rate and the rebleeding rate with the classification showed: CE-Ia, 100% (6/6), 50% (3/6), 33.3% (2/6); Ib, 66.7% (4/6), 0% (0/6), 16.7% (1/6); IIa, 33.3% (1/3), 33.3% (1/3), 33.3% (1/3); IIb, 53.8% (7/13),15.4% (2/13), 30.8% (4/13); III, 100% (84/84), 9.5% (8/84), 8.3% (7/84); IV, 100% (2/2), 50% (1/2), 0% (0/2); and 0, 0% (0/9), 0% (0/9), 0% (0/9), respectively. Conclusions:, The proportion of patients requiring treatment, the positive findings rate with DBE or enteroclysis and the rebleeding rates tended to be higher in the higher ranked classification types (CE-I > II > III > IV > 0). These findings suggest that the classification can provide useful information on determining the indications and timing of DBE. [source] WHAT KIND OF BENEFIT DO WE EXPECT FOR PERORAL PANCREATOSCOPY IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF INTRADUCTAL PAPILLARY MUCINOUS TUMOR OF THE PANCREAS?DIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 2006Taketo Yamaguchi Intraductal papillary mucinous tumor (IPMT) of the pancreas is characterized by slow growth and a relatively favorable prognosis, however, invasive cancer originating in an IPMT is associated with a poor prognosis. Although various parameters in imaging modalities have been advocated to differentiate between benign IPMN and malignant ones, it is not easy to obtain definite diagnosis based on these parameters. Peroral pancreatoscopy (POPS) allows a clear and direct visualization of the pancreatic duct, providing useful information regarding tumor nature in IPMT. The authors have studied the usefulness of POPS in the diagnosis of IPMT. Nevertheless, its usefulness is not necessarily widely accepted and the significance of POPS is still controversial. In this review, the authors intended to address the diagnostic value of POPS and to clarify its role in the diagnosis of IPMT. The authors think treatment of IPMT can be improved by introducing POPS because the determination of surgical procedure as well as the area of resection based on the preoperative diagnosis of the involvement of the main pancreatic duct and branch duct is inevitable. [source] Laparoscopic findings in non-alcoholic steatohepatitisDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY, Issue 4 2003Shuichi Seki Background:, Non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) is prevalent worldwide, but little attention has been paid to the gross visual appearance of NASH. The present study was performed to address the laparoscopic features of NASH and the relationship between laparoscopic and histologicalal findings. Methods:, Eleven patients were examined by laparoscopy with liver biopsy. Histological findings were examined according to the criteria of Brunt et al. with minor modification. Mallory bodies were immunohistochemically detected by an antibody to ubiquitin in addition to hematoxylin eosin staining. Results:, Laparoscopic features of NASH were swelling of the liver, formation of many depressions, and dull edges of the liver. When steatosis was present in more than one-third of lobules, yellowish markings appeared on the liver surface. NASH progressed from a smooth liver surface with or without yellowish markings, to formation of depressions on the liver surface, to cirrhosis with or without hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Conclusion:, Laparoscopy may provide useful information in the diagnosis and progression of NASH. [source] Proteomic analysis of liver cancer cells treated with 5-Aza-2,-deoxycytidine (AZA),DRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 1 2009Shujun Bai Abstract 5-Aza-2,-deoxycytidine (AZA) is a potent inhibitor of DNA methylation that exhibits anti-tumor activity in a variety of tumor cells via reactivation of tumor suppressor genes. However, few studies have been done on the biological and clinical significance of AZA in human hepatocellular carcinoma. To identify potential genes that may be aberrantly methylated and confer growth advantage to neoplastic cells and to better understand the molecular mechanism(s) underlying AZA anti-tumor activity, a proteomics approach was used to annotate global gene expression changes of HepG2 cell line pre- and post-treatment with AZA. A total of 56 differentially expressed proteins were identified by 2D gel analysis, 48 of which were up-regulated while the remaining 8 were down regulated. Among the identified proteins, eight of these showed marked changed proteins, including seven up-regulated proteins: glutathione S-transferase P, protein DJ-1, peroxiredoxin-2, UMP-CMP kinase, cytochrome c-type heme lyase, enhancer of rudimentary homolog, profilin-1, and one down-regulated protein, heat-shock protein ,,1. The possible implication of these proteins in hepatocarcinogenesis is discussed. We tested two up-regulated proteins, glutathione S-transferase P and peroxiredoxin-2, using RT-PCR and their expression was consistent with the results obtained in the protein level. Both of these genes were methylated when methylation-specific PCR was used against their promoter regions. Following treatment with AZA, the gene promoter regions were found to be unmethylated, concomitant with overexpression of the proteins compared to HepG2 cells without treatment. These data provide useful information in evaluating the therapeutic potential of AZA for the treatment of HCC. Drug Dev Res 69, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Spatial prediction of river channel topography by krigingEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 6 2008Carl J. Legleiter Abstract Topographic information is fundamental to geomorphic inquiry, and spatial prediction of bed elevation from irregular survey data is an important component of many reach-scale studies. Kriging is a geostatistical technique for obtaining these predictions along with measures of their reliability, and this paper outlines a specialized framework intended for application to river channels. Our modular approach includes an algorithm for transforming the coordinates of data and prediction locations to a channel-centered coordinate system, several different methods of representing the trend component of topographic variation and search strategies that incorporate geomorphic information to determine which survey data are used to make a prediction at a specific location. For example, a relationship between curvature and the lateral position of maximum depth can be used to include cross-sectional asymmetry in a two-dimensional trend surface model, and topographic breaklines can be used to restrict which data are retained in a local neighborhood around each prediction location. Using survey data from a restored gravel-bed river, we demonstrate how transformation to the channel-centered coordinate system facilitates interpretation of the variogram, a statistical model of reach-scale spatial structure used in kriging, and how the choice of a trend model affects the variogram of the residuals from that trend. Similarly, we show how decomposing kriging predictions into their trend and residual components can yield useful information on channel morphology. Cross-validation analyses involving different data configurations and kriging variants indicate that kriging is quite robust and that survey density is the primary control on the accuracy of bed elevation predictions. The root mean-square error of these predictions is directly proportional to the spacing between surveyed cross-sections, even in a reconfigured channel with a relatively simple morphology; sophisticated methods of spatial prediction are no substitute for field data. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Reference Values Describing the Normal Mitral Valve and the Position of the Papillary MusclesECHOCARDIOGRAPHY, Issue 7 2007Petrus Nordblom M.Sc. In patients with functional mitral regurgitation (MR), the principal mechanisms are insufficient coaptation due to dilatation of the mitral annulus (MA), global ventricular dysfunction with tethering of leaflets, or restricted leaflet motion with incorrect apposition due to regional ventricular dysfunction and displacement of the papillary muscles (PMs). These different entities often coexist and for this reason, knowledge of the normal reference values describing the shape and size of the MA and the position of the PMs is essential. In the present study, we describe the MA dimensions and the position of the PMs in a group of normal individuals (n = 38, 60% women, age [mean ± SD] 51 ± 9 years and BSA 1.83 ± 0.16 m2) investigated with transthoracic echocardiography. The anteroposterior dimension (AP) of the ellipse-shaped MA was measured in a parasternal long axis, while the distance from the posteromedial (PoM) to the anterolateral (AL) commissure was measured in a parasternal short axis (CC). The annular area was calculated assuming elliptic geometry. The MA shape was described by the ratios AP/CC and AP/length of the anterior leaflet. The PMs' position was described by the following distances: (a) from the MA to the tip of the PoM and AL, PMs measured in a modified two-chamber view where both PMs could be identified, (b) the interpapillary distance, and (c) the tethering distance from the tip of the PM to the contralateral MA. These data on the normal mitral valve morphology should provide useful information when assessing the underlying mechanism of functional MR. [source] Object detection using straight line matching in ,-, spaceELECTRONICS & COMMUNICATIONS IN JAPAN, Issue 3 2010Taisei Okuzono Abstract The contours of many industrial parts contain straight lines and the positions of the lines are therefore useful information for object detection. This paper presents a matching technique for straight lines. The method consists of ,-matching, ,-matching, and pose estimation. Any lines in 2D space are represented with parameters , and , by the Hough transform. In order to find the corresponding lines in a model and a scene, the , and , values are evaluated in ,-matching and ,-matching. When an object is translated and rotated, the contour lines of the object are also transferred and the , values of the lines are merely shifted by the rotation angle in the ,-, space. Thus, the relative positions of the , values are invariant. In ,-matching, the corresponding lines of the model and the scene are selected so that the relative , values of the corresponding lines are nearly equal. In ,-matching, the corresponding lines are evaluated further by computing the deviations of their , values. Finally, the transfer parameters of the selected pairs are estimated in pose estimation. The experiments show that this technique is robust to rotation, occlusion, and scaling of the objects. We also discuss the computation time, in which the preprocess such as edge detection and the Hough transform takes much of the time. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn, 93(3): 34,41, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecj.10176 [source] Mercury speciation by CE: An updateELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 1 2009Petr Kubán Abstract This review provides an update on mercury speciation by CE. It includes a brief discussion on physicochemical properties, toxicity and transformation pathways of mercury species (i.e. methyl-, ethyl-, phenyl- and inorganic mercury) and outlines recent trends in Hg speciation by CE. CE is presented as a complementary technique to chromatographic separation techniques, especially in cases when speed, high efficiency and low sample volumes are required. The development of suitable sample preconcentration/isolation (sample stacking, ion exchange, liquid,liquid,liquid extraction, dual-cloud point extraction) to achieve low LODs for analysis of trace concentrations of mercury species in real samples is emphasized. Hyphenation of CE to element specific detectors (i.e. electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry, atomic fluorescence spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry, inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry) is discussed as well as a potential of CE in interaction studies that may provide useful information on interaction of various Hg species with selected bio-macromolecules. [source] Review of dyspnoea quantification in the emergency department: Is a rating scale for breathlessness suitable for use as an admission prediction tool?EMERGENCY MEDICINE AUSTRALASIA, Issue 5 2007Amanda Saracino Abstract Acute shortness of breath is a potential marker of serious cardiopulmonary disease and requires rapid assessment. In our current health-care system, increasing pressure on the ED to limit costs and waiting times has resulted in the development of many clinical decision aids and admission prediction tools designed to assist ED physicians in meeting these demands. However, most of these tools are disease specific, and none are currently available for application to patients presenting to the ED with shortness of breath. Although somewhat limited, current evidence supports the utilization of a simple dyspnoea rating scale, to assist in the streamlining of clinical severity assessments and urgency evaluations, and to potentially provide useful information to facilitate rapid and accurate site-of-care decisions in this setting. [source] Customer Satisfaction in a Large Urban Fire Department Emergency Medical Services SystemACADEMIC EMERGENCY MEDICINE, Issue 1 2004David E. Persse MD Objectives: The purpose of this study was to determine if emergency medical services (EMS) customer satisfaction could be assessed using telephone-survey methods. The process by which customer satisfaction with the EMS service in a large, fire department,based EMS system is reported, and five month results are presented. Methods: Ten percent of all patients transported during the period of October 15, 2001, through March 15, 2002, were selected for study. In addition, during the same period, all EMS incidents in which a patient was not transported were identified for contact. Customer-service representatives contacted patients via telephone and surveyed them from prepared scripts. Results: A total of 88,528 EMS incidents occurred during the study period. Of these, 53,649 resulted in patient transports and 34,879 did not. Ten percent of patients transported (5,098) were selected for study participation, of which 2,498 were successfully contacted; of these, 2,368 (94.8%) reported overall satisfaction with the service provided. Of the 34,879 incidents without transport, only 5,859 involved patients who were seen but not transported. All of these patients were selected for study. Of these, 2,975 were successfully contacted, with 2,865 (96.3%) reporting overall satisfaction. The most common reason given for nonsatisfaction in both groups was the perception of a long response time. Conclusions: It is possible to conduct a survey of EMS customer satisfaction using telephone-survey methods. Although difficulties exist in contacting patients, useful information is made available with this method. Such surveys should be an integral part of any EMS system's quality-improvement efforts. In this survey, the overwhelming majority of patients, both transported and not transported, were satisfied with their encounter with EMS. [source] A review of the acute subjective effects of MDMA/ecstasyADDICTION, Issue 7 2006Chelsea A. Baylen ABSTRACT Aim Although several relatively recent reviews have summarized the neuropsychiatric effects associated with chronic ecstasy use, there is no published comprehensive review of studies on the acute subjective effects (ASEs) of MDMA/ecstasy. Design The present study reviewed the prevalence, intensity and duration of ASEs collected from 24 studies that provided frequency data on the prevalence of self-reported ecstasy effects and/or provided data on the intensity of ecstasy effects. Findings Although hundreds of ASEs have been reported following MDMA consumption, we identified a subset of effects reported repeatedly by meaningful proportions and large numbers of participants across multiple investigations, most of which were either emotional (e.g. anxiety, depression, closeness, fear, euphoria, calmness) or somatic (e.g. nausea/vomiting, bruxism, muscle aches/headache, sweating, numbness, body temperature changes, fatigue, dizziness, dry mouth, increased energy). Only one sexual ASE (sexual arousal/increased sensual awareness), one cognitive ASE (confused thought), one sensory,perceptual ASE (visual effects/changes in visual perception), one sleep-related ASE (sleeplessness) and one appetite-related ASE (decreased appetite) were reported across five or more investigations. Three factors,number of hours between ingestion and assessment, dose level, and gender,have been associated with the acute subjective experience of MDMA/ecstasy., Conclusions This review provides useful information for clinicians and researchers who want to understand the desirable and undesirable ASEs that may motivate and restrain ecstasy use, for public health advocates who seek to reduce biomedical harms (e.g. fainting, dehydration, shortness of breath, bruxism) associated with recreational use of MDMA/ecstasy, and for educators who wish to design credible prevention messages that neither underestimate nor exaggerate users' experiences of this drug. [source] Adding Video Recording Increases the Diagnostic Yield of Routine Electroencephalograms in Children with Frequent Paroxysmal EventsEPILEPSIA, Issue 5 2005Nathan Watemberg Summary:,Purpose: To report on the usefulness of adding video recording to routine EEG studies of infants and children with frequent paroxysmal events. Methods: We analyzed the efficacy of this diagnostic means during a 4-year period. The decision whether to add video recording was made by the pediatric EEG interpreter at the time of the study. Studies were planned to last between 20 and 30 min, and, if needed, were extended by the EEG interpreter. For most studies, video recording was added from the beginning of EEG recording. In a minority of cases, the addition of video was implemented during the first part of the EEG test, as clinical events became obvious. In these cases, a new study (file) was begun. The success rate was analyzed according to the indications for the EEG study: paroxysmal eye movements, tremor, suspected seizures, myoclonus, staring episodes, suspected stereotypias and tics, absence epilepsy follow-up, cyanotic episodes, and suspected psychogenic nonepileptic events. Results: Video recording was added to 137 of 666 routine studies. Mean patient age was 4.8 years. The nature of the event was determined in 61 (45%) of the EEG studies. Twenty-eight percent were hospitalized patients. The average study duration was 26 min. This diagnostic means was particularly useful for paroxysmal eye movements, staring spells, myoclonic jerks, stereotypias, and psychogenic nonepileptic events. About 46% of 116 patients for whom cognitive data were available were mentally retarded. EEG with added video recording was successfully performed in all 116 cases and provided useful information in 29 (55%) of these 53 patients. Conclusions: Adding video recording to routine EEG was helpful in 45% of cases referred for frequent paroxysmal events. This technique proved useful for hospitalized children as well as for outpatients. Moreover, it was successfully applied in cognitively impaired patients. Infants and children with paroxysmal eye movements, staring spells, myoclonic jerks, stereotypias, and pseudoseizures especially benefited from this diagnostic means. Because of its low cost and the little discomfort imposed on the patient and his or her family, this technique should be considered as a first diagnostic step in children with frequent paroxysmal events. [source] Subtraction SPECT Coregistered to MRI in Focal Malformations of Cortical Development: Localization of the Epileptogenic Zone in Epilepsy Surgery CandidatesEPILEPSIA, Issue 4 2004Terence J. O'Brien Summary: Purpose: To determine the extent to which periictal subtraction single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) may improve detection and definition of the epileptogenic zone in patients with focal malformations of cortical development (MCDs). Methods: Subtraction SPECT coregistered to magnetic resonance (MR) images (SISCOM) were constructed for 22 consecutive patients with focal MCDs who underwent periictal SPECT injection (18 ictal and four postictal). In the 17 patients who had epilepsy surgery, concordance between the site of SISCOM localization and site of surgical resection was determined by coregistration of SISCOM images with postoperative MRIs. Results: SISCOM images were localizing in 19 (86%) patients, including eight of the 10 with nonlocalizing MRI. Concordance of SISCOM localization was 91% with MRI localization, 93% with scalp ictal EEG localization, and 100% with intracranial EEG localization. Eight patients whose SISCOM localization was concordant with the surgical resection site had lower postoperative seizure frequency scores (SFSs; p = 0.04) and greater postoperative improvement in SFSs (p = 0.05) than the nine patients whose SISCOM was either nonconcordant or nonlocalizing. On multiple regression analysis, a model combining SISCOM concordance with surgical resection site and extent of MRI lesion resection was predictive of postoperative SFS (R2= 0.47; p = 0.03). Conclusions: Periictal subtraction SPECT using the SISCOM technique provides useful information for seizure localization in patients with focal MCDs, even when MRI is nonlocalizing. [source] Pathology of lethal peripartum broad ligament haematoma in 31 Thoroughbred maresEQUINE VETERINARY JOURNAL, Issue 6 2010T. UENO Summary Reasons for performing study: Broad ligament haemorrhage in peripartum mares is a life-threatening disease and there are few reports on the aetiology and pathogenesis of broad ligament haematoma. Objectives: To obtain information regarding the sites for the early diagnosis and pathogenesis of broad ligament haematoma of mares. Methods: Thirty-one mares that died of broad ligament haematoma peripartum were examined pathologically for bleeding sites. The arterial distribution of 5 young mares with several parities served as negative controls. Results: Age and/or multiparity were the predisposing factors for the disease. Arterial injuries were most commonly observed in the uterine artery (24 of 31 mares). Among these, the proximal uterine artery that lies within 15 cm of the bifurcation of the iliac artery was the most frequent site for rupture (18 mares). The lesions occurred preferentially at the bifurcations, lateral part of curvatures and abrupt flexures of the artery. The morphology of the injuries was classified into 3 types: ruptures with and without longitudinal fissures, and transections. Histologically, the arterial wall adjacent to the rupture showed atrophy of smooth muscle cells with fibrosis of the tunica media and disruption and/or calcification of the internal elastic lamina. Conclusions: Arterial injuries that led to broad ligament haematoma in peripartum mares occurred most frequently in the proximal uterine artery, and atrophy of smooth muscle cells with fibrosis of the arterial wall was as one of the predisposing factors in aged and multiparous mares. Potential relevance: Monitoring small aneurysms, mural tearing, medial fibrosis at the proximal uterine artery by transrectal echography could provide useful information for the early diagnosis and possible prevention of broad ligament haematoma of peripartum mares. [source] Traditional Chinese medicine in cancer care: perspectives and experiences of patients and professionals in ChinaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CANCER CARE, Issue 4 2006W. XU md, msc Although traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is widely used in Chinese cancer centres, it is a brand new area for formal scientific evaluation. As the first step of developing a research programme on clinical evaluation of TCM for cancer patients, we conducted a qualitative study to explore the perspectives and experiences of Chinese cancer patients and TCM professionals. Twenty-eight persons participated in two cancer patient focus groups and one professional focus group. Semi-structured interviews were audiotaped, transcribed and translated. Textual transcripts and field notes underwent inductive thematic analysis. We found that patients' decision to use TCM for cancer is a self-help process with a deep cultural grounding, which is related to the traditional Chinese philosophy of life. Participants perceived TCM to be an effective and harmless therapy. They highly valued the fact that TCM is tailored to patients, and believed it was the basis of an optimal and safe treatment. Participants also highlighted the long-term positive effects, the benefit of group interventions and the low cost as important features of TCM. Subjects believed that conducting clinical research would be crucial for the recognition and dissemination of TCM in Western countries. The findings of this study are expected to contribute to the knowledge base on the current TCM use for cancer in China, and to provide useful information for developing future clinical research in this area in Western countries. [source] Regiospecific distribution of fatty acids in triacylglycerols and phospholipids from broad beans (Vicia faba)EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF LIPID SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2009Hiromi Yoshida Abstract Regiospecific distributions of fatty acids of triacylglycerols (TAG) and phospholipids (PL) separated from broad beans (Vicia faba) of four cultivars (Minpo, Sanuki, Nintoku and Sanren) were investigated. The major lipid components were PL (47.5,50.5,wt-%) and TAG (47.7,50.1,wt-%), while steryl esters, hydrocarbons, free fatty acids, diacylglycerols and monoacylglycerols were present in minor proportions (1.6,2.4,wt-%). The PL components isolated from the four cultivars were phosphatidylcholine (56.4,58.4,wt-%), phosphatidylethanolamine (20.3,21.7,wt-%) and phosphatidylinositol (16.6,18.6,wt-%). Phosphatidylinositol was unique in that it had the highest saturated fatty acid content among these PL. The principal characteristics of the fatty acid distribution in the TAG and PL were evident in the beans: Unsaturated fatty acids were predominantly concentrated in the sn -2 position while saturated fatty acids primarily occupied the sn -1 or sn -3 position in these lipids. The lipid components and fatty acid distributions were almost the same in the four cultivars and were not influenced by genetic variability and planting location. These results could be useful information to both consumers and producers for the manufacture of traditional broad bean foods in Japan. [source] Review of the functional surgical treatment of dystoniaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 5 2001Paul Krack A review of functional surgery for dystonia is presented. Recently renewed interest in stereotaxy for dystonia has followed the resurgence of pallidotomy and the introduction of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in Parkinson's disease (PD) in the early 1990s. However, even since the 1950s, small series of patients treated with ablative surgery have been carefully studied, providing useful information, notably regarding the tolerability of surgery. In the setting of dystonia, thalamotomy was first performed with substantial benefits, but some authors outlined the great variability in outcome, and the high incidence of operative side-effects. In the ,modern' era of functional surgery for movement disorders, the globus pallidus internus (GPi) has emerged to be currently the best target for dystonia, based on small series of patients published in the last few years. Both bilateral posteroventral pallidotomy (PVP) and bilateral pallidal stimulation, performed by several teams, have benefited a variety of patients with severe dystonia, the most dramatic improvements being seen in primary dystonia with a mutation in the DYT1 gene. Whereas patients with secondary dystonia have often shown a lesser degree of improvement, some publications have nevertheless reported major benefit. There is today a strong need for carefully controlled studies comparing secondary and primary dystonia, DYT1 and non-DYT1 dystonia, ablative surgery and DBS, with additional assessment of neuropsychological changes, especially in children treated with bilateral pallidal procedures. [source] THE AMERICAN BAR ASSOCIATION ADDRESSES THE NATIONAL PROBLEM OF YOUTH AT RISKFAMILY COURT REVIEW, Issue 3 2007Karen J. Mathis During the 2006,2007 American Bar Association (ABA) year, a special ABA Presidential Youth at Risk Initiative has addressed several important topics: addressing the needs of juvenile status offenders and their families; foster children aging out of the foster care system; increases in girls, especially girls of color, in the juvenile justice system; the need to better hear the voices of youth in court proceedings affecting them; and improving how laws can better address youth crossing over between juvenile justice and child welfare systems. Lawyers are encouraged to use their skills to improve the systems addressing at-risk youth and their families and to help facilitate coordination of youth-related community efforts. Learning how to effectively communicate with youth is an important skill attorneys must learn. Through the Youth at Risk Initiative, the ABA has held continuing legal education programs, hosted community roundtables among youth-serving stakeholders, and developed projects on: juvenile status offenders; lawyer assistance to youth transitioning from foster care; educating young girls on violence prevention, conflict resolution, and careers in law and justice; and provision of useful information to youth awaiting juvenile court hearings. New ABA policy has addressed services and programs to at-risk youth, assuring licensing, regulation, and monitoring of residential facilities serving at-risk youth, enhanced support for sexual minority foster and homeless youth, juvenile status offenders, and improving laws and policies related to youth exiting the foster care system. [source] Biochemical characterization and inhibitor discovery of shikimate dehydrogenase from Helicobacter pyloriFEBS JOURNAL, Issue 20 2006Cong Han Shikimate dehydrogenase (SDH) is the fourth enzyme involved in the shikimate pathway. It catalyzes the NADPH-dependent reduction of 3-dehydroshikimate to shikimate, and has been developed as a promising target for the discovery of antimicrobial agent. In this report, we identified a new aroE gene encoding SDH from Helicobacter pylori strain SS1. The recombinant H. pylori shikimate dehydrogenase (HpSDH) was cloned, expressed, and purified in Escherichia coli system. The enzymatic characterization of HpSDH demonstrates its activity with kcat of 7.7 s,1 and Km of 0.148 mm toward shikimate, kcat of 7.1 s,1 and Km of 0.182 mm toward NADP, kcat of 5.2 s,1 and Km of 2.9 mm toward NAD. The optimum pH of the enzyme activity is between 8.0 and 9.0, and the optimum temperature is around 60 °C. Using high throughput screening against our laboratory chemical library, five compounds, curcumin (1), 3-(2-naphthyloxy)-4-oxo-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4H -chromen-7-yl 3-chlorobenzoate (2), butyl 2-{[3-(2-naphthyloxy)-4-oxo-2-(trifluoromethyl)-4H -chromen-7-yl]oxy}propanoate (3), 2-({2-[(2-{[2-(2,3-dimethylanilino)-2-oxoethyl]sulfanyl}-1,3-benzothiazol-6-yl)amino]-2-oxoethyl}sulfanyl)- N -(2-naphthyl)acetamide (4), and maesaquinone diacetate (5) were discovered as HpSDH inhibitors with IC50 values of 15.4, 3.9, 13.4, 2.9, and 3.5 µm, respectively. Further investigation indicates that compounds 1, 2, 3, and 5 demonstrate noncompetitive inhibition pattern, and compound 4 displays competitive inhibition pattern with respect to shikimate. Compounds 1, 4, and 5 display noncompetitive inhibition mode, and compounds 2 and 3 show competitive inhibition mode with respect to NADP. Antibacterial assays demonstrate that compounds 1, 2, and 5 can inhibit the growth of H. pylori with MIC of 16, 16, and 32 µg·mL,1, respectively. This current work is expected to favor better understanding the features of SDH and provide useful information for the development of novel antibiotics to treat H. pylori -associated infection. [source] Linking the flame-retardant mechanisms of an ethylene-acrylate copolymer, chalk and silicone elastomer system with its intumescent behaviourFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 6 2005Anna Hermansson Abstract In this paper the flame-retardant mechanisms of a flame-retardant system consisting of ethylene-acrylate copolymer, chalk and silicone elastomer are linked to its foaming process and to its formation of a final intumescent structure. Thermocouples were placed inside and at the surface of cone calorimeter test specimens in order to measure the temperature at different depths during the formation of the intumescent structure. The temperature and visual observations of the foaming process were then linked to chemical reactions seen with thermogravimetric analysis and also coupled with earlier knowledge of the flame-retardant mechanism. A correlation is seen between the chemical reactions, the temperature (inside and at the surface of a cone calorimeter test specimen) as measured by thermocouples and visual observations in the intumescent process. Further, the outcome of this study provides useful information for achieving a deeper understanding of the flame-retardant mechanisms of the ethylene-acrylate copolymer, chalk and silicone elastomer system. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Investigation and correlation of manikin and bench-scale fire testing of clothing systemsFIRE AND MATERIALS, Issue 6 2002Calvin Lee The US Army currently has five flame/thermal protective clothing systems to provide protection for soldiers against fire hazards. The protective performance of these clothing systems against burn injuries was investigated in full-scale manikin tests. The protective performance of fabric layers of these clothing systems was also examined in bench-scale tests. In addition, air gap thicknesses and distributions of the five clothing systems were determined by using a three-dimensional laser scanning technique. In this paper, test conditions of the manikin and bench-scale tests are compared, and the test results are correlated in light of the air gap measurements. The behavior of individual sensors on the manikin with similar test conditions to those of bench-scale tests are compared with the bench-scale tests. It is found that if the air gap distribution of a clothing system is known, bench-scale tests could provide useful information for full-scale performance, especially bench-scale tests with zero air gap measurements. Published in 2002 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Instant centre frequency at anaesthetic induction , a new way to analyse sympathovagal balance,FUNDAMENTAL & CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY, Issue 1 2003Edmundo Pereira De Souza Neto Abstract The instant centre frequency (ICF) of RR interval has been proposed as a global index to analyse the sympathovagal interaction in the heart. The aim of this study was to assess the ICF during anaesthesia to test if it can reliably capture the neural control of the cardiovascular system. Twenty-four ASA II or III patients scheduled for cardiac surgery were included in the study. They were allocated in two groups: control, no treatment (group 1, n = 12), and beta-adrenergic blockade by atenolol (group 2, n = 12). Spectra of pulse interval series were computed with a time,frequency method and they were divided into: very low frequency (VLF, 0.000,0.040 Hz), low frequency (LF, 0.050,0.150 Hz) and high frequency (HF, 0.160,0.500 Hz). Normalized power was obtained by dividing the cumulative power within each frequency band (LF or HF) by the sum of LF and HF; the ratio of LF/HF was also calculated. Instant centre frequency is a time-varying parameter that the evolution along time of the gravity centrum of a local spectrum. All spectral indexes were recorded at the following time points: before induction, after induction and before intubation, during intubation, and after intubation. The atenolol group had lower normalized LF and the LF/HF ratio (P < 0.05) higher HF before induction; and lower LF/HF ratio after induction and before intubation (P < 0.05). The ICF was higher in atenolol group at all times. The ICF shifted towards HF frequency after induction and before intubation and shifted towards LF during intubation in both groups. The autonomic nervous system control on the heart through the interaction of sympathetic and parasympathetic reflex mechanisms could be studied by the ICF. The ICF may assess the autonomic cardiac modulation and may provide useful information for anaesthetic management. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||