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Is naturopathy as effective as conventional therapy for treatment of menopausal symptoms?
Naturopathy appears to be an effective alternative for relief of specific menopausal symptoms compared to conventional therapy.
Can randomised trials rely on existing electronic data?
Routine data have the potential to support health technology assessment by RCTs. The cost of data collection and analysis is likely to fall, although further work is required to improve the validity of routine data, particularly in central returns. Better knowledge of the capability of local systems and access to the data held on them is also essential. Routinely captured clinical data have real potential to measure patient outcomes, particularly if the detail and precision of the data could be improved.
Is laparoscopic radical prostatectomy better than traditional retropubic radical prostatectomy?
The results of our non-randomized study show that up to now laparoscopic radical prostatectomy does not provide significant advantages in terms of peri-operative morbidity compared with the traditional retropubic approach.
Does bacterial gastroenteritis predispose people to functional gastrointestinal disorders?
Symptoms consistent with IBS and functional diarrhea occur more frequently in people after bacterial gastroenteritis compared with controls, even after careful exclusion of people with pre-existing FGIDs. The frequency is similar at 3 and 6 months. Our findings support the existence of postinfectious IBS and give an accurate estimate of its frequency.
Is early colonoscopy after admission for acute diverticular bleeding needed?
No significant association is apparent between the timing of colonoscopy after admission and encountering active bleeding or nonbleeding stigmata. Based on these observations, urgent colonoscopy for these patients does not seem advantageous.
Does the use of a specialised paediatric retrieval service result in the loss of vital stabilisation skills among referring hospital staff?
Referring hospital staff are performing a greater proportion of initial airway and vascular access procedures undertaken in the stabilisation of sick children retrieved by a specialised paediatric retrieval team. The provision of this service has not resulted in the loss of vital skills at the local hospital.
Management of thoracic empyema in childhood: does the pleural thickening matter?
Results suggest that decortication is not necessary in children to prevent long term problems with pleural thickening, and should be undertaken on the basis of the clinical picture (failure of fever resolution), rather than radiological appearance.
Does repeated hyperbaric exposure to 4 atmosphere absolute cause hearing impairment?
Pressure applied directly on the inner ear during diving does not disturb cochlear activity.
Lower urinary tract reconstruction for duplicated renal units with ureterocele. Is excision of the ureterocele with reconstruction of the bladder base necessary?
Lower urinary tract reconstruction for duplicated renal systems with obstruction of the upper pole can be accomplished safely with decreased morbidity through the extravesical approach without excision of the ureterocele or reconstruction of the bladder base. Moreover, in instances when there is no reflux to the lower pole moiety, upper pole only extravesical ureteroneocystostomy can be performed.
Is common sheath extravesical reimplantation an effective technique to correct reflux in duplicated collecting systems?
Common sheath extravesical reimplantation is highly effective in treating VUR. The common sheath extravesical reimplantation for duplicated collecting systems is as effective in nonduplicated systems and is associated with minimal perioperative morbidity.
Is an empty left hemiscrotum and hypertrophied right descended testis predictive of perinatal torsion?
The combination of a nonpalpable left testis and an enlarged right testis is highly predictive of perinatal testicular torsion. When both criteria were met 20 of 22 (91%) consecutive patients had histological or laparoscopically confirmed perinatal torsion and 1 had only clinical features. This finding supports the concept of scrotal exploration as the initial procedure in the child who has an empty left hemiscrotum and hypertrophied descended right testis. Laparoscopy should be reserved for boys in whom a distinct remnant is not found on scrotal exploration.
Does treatment with clean intermittent catheterization in boys with posterior urethral valves affect bladder and renal function?
The results suggest that treatment of bladder dysfunction in boys with PUV can counteract the deterioration in renal function seen during childhood but the number of patients in our study is limited.
Can bladder outflow obstruction be diagnosed from pressure flow analysis of voiding initiated by involuntary detrusor overactivity?
This study demonstrates that increased detrusor pressure observed during voiding subsequent to detrusor overactivity does not change the diagnostic classification in 80% of men. The results provide evidence that bladder outflow obstruction can be reliably diagnosed based on pressure flow parameters recorded during voiding initiated by involuntary detrusor overactivity.
Optimal lesion assessment following acute radio frequency ablation of porcine kidney: cellular viability or histopathology?
While RFA produces discernible histological changes acutely on H&E, these alterations are variable and patchy, and they alternate with areas of well preserved tissue. Therefore, NADH staining should always be used to assess and verify cellular death in RFA lesions. In this study no skip areas of viable cells were noted within areas of ablated tissue on NADH staining.
Efficacy of secondary isoniazid preventive therapy among HIV-infected Southern Africans: time to change policy?
Secondary preventive therapy reduces TB recurrence: the absolute impact appears to be greatest among individuals with low CD4 cell counts. International TB preventive therapy guidelines for HIV-infected individuals need to be expanded to include recommendations for secondary preventive therapy in settings where TB prevalence is high.
Is it necessary to obtain serum levels of thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin in asymptomatic women with infertility?
The practice of routinely ordering serum levels of TSH and PRL in infertility patients having normal periods is questioned.
Valuing the outcomes of treatment: do patients and their caregivers agree?
Patient-caregiver agreement about the acceptability of health states with functional or cognitive impairment, severe pain, or other symptoms was poor. Caregivers making surrogate decisions based on considerations of treatment outcomes may not effectively represent patients' preferences.
Do different mattresses affect the quality of cardiopulmonary resuscitation?
Resuscitation performance is adversely affected when performed on a bed (irrespective of mattress type) compared to the floor. There were no differences between the inflated and deflated mattresses, although the deflation process did not adversely affect performance. This study does not support the routine deflation of an inflated mattress during resuscitation and questions the potential benefits from using a backboard. The finding that bed height affects maximal compression forces, challenges the recommendation that cardiopulmonary resuscitation be performed with the bed at middle-thigh level and requires further investigation.
Could health care costs for depression be decreased if the disorder were correctly diagnosed and treated?
In spite of the limitations of the small sample size, the results seem to confirm an increase of direct health care costs in untreated depressed subjects. In view of the availability of efficient forms of treatment for depression, the findings obtained indicate that depression should be considered a priority question for public health and assigning of resources. Further confirmation should be sought in larger population-based studies representing the entire national context.
MR imaging of anterior cruciate ligament tears: is there a gender gap?
Gender differences in MR imaging patterns of ACL tears exist: females are more commonly imaged in the acute stage and more commonly possess posterolateral tibial bone contusions; males have a more severe presentation than females, associated with more severe lateral femoral condyle and soft tissue injuries.
Distribution of spinal fractures in children: does age, mechanism of injury, or gender play a significant role?
Regardless of gender or mechanism of injury, the thoracic spine (T2-T10) is the most common region of fracture in pediatric trauma patients.
Do people recognise mental illness?
The low knowledge about mental disorders, particularly depression, confirms the importance and the need to increase mental health literacy. Furthermore, professionals must openly discuss illness models with their patients, especially emphasising the differences between illness and crisis.
Documentation of idiotypic cascade after Lym-1 radioimmunotherapy in a patient with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: basis for extended survival?
This study offers direct evidence for initiation of a multilevel idiotypic cascade in a patient undergoing passive monoclonal antibody therapy for NHL. The patient's prolonged disease-free survival may, thus, be understood in the context of the generation of endogenous, self-perpetuating tumor-specific antibodies.
Management of cancer of the ampulla of Vater: does local resection play a role?
Pancreaticoduodenectomy is the preferred operation for cancer of the ampulla of Vater in patients who are fit for the procedure. Local resection plays a limited role in carefully selected patients.
Is hypothyroidism a risk factor for non-alcoholic steatohepatitis?
These data suggest that hypothyroidism is associated with human NASH. Further research is needed to confirm this finding and to understand its implications.
Spontaneous subarachnoid hemorrhage,: is emergency transcranial Doppler sonography useful?
The ability of TCD recorded in the first 24 hours of hospital admission to detect high-risk vasospasm patients for SAH with low clinical severity helps decide the most efficient patient destination. During the first three days the MV/24h is of value but not the absolute figure of the MV. In contrast, between the 4th and 14th day after SAH, the absolute figure of MV was useful to predict vasospasm.
Chronic vulvar purpura: persistent pigmented purpuric dermatitis (lichen aureus) of the vulva or plasma cell (Zoon's) vulvitis?
Reported herein is an unusual vulvar dermatosis that is best classified as a localized variant of persistent pigmented dermatosis (lichen aureus) but overlaps clinically and histologically with Zoon's vulvitis. This constellation of findings may represent a site-specific mucosal reaction to an erosive process that could either be inflammatory (hypersensitivity reaction) and/or traumatic in nature.
Is it possible to diagnose acute otitis media accurately in primary health care?
The use of a pneumatic otoscope and tympanometry reduces the number of acute otitis media diagnoses by>30%, suggesting that acute otitis media may be misdiagnosed often. Between clinicians, there was a substantial discrepancy in diagnoses of acute otitis media.
Using the Internet to conduct surveys of health professionals: a valid alternative?
Internet-based surveys provide an attractive alternative to postal and telephone surveys of health professionals, but they raise important technical and methodological issues which should be carefully considered before widespread implementation. The major obstacle is external validity, and specifically how to obtain a representative sample and adequate response rate. Controlled access to a national list of NHSnet e-mail addresses of health professionals could provide a solution.
Providing information on metered dose inhaler technique: is multimedia as effective as print?
Short-term, multimedia is as least as effective as a good leaflet, and may have advantages for steps involving movement. MTS was acceptable to all age groups. The method could be used more widely in primary care.
Expression of PRPF31 mRNA in patients with autosomal dominant retinitis pigmentosa: a molecular clue for incomplete penetrance?
Partial penetrance in RP11 could be due to the coinheritance of a PRPF31 gene defect and a low-expressed wild-type allele. This study revealed a potential avenue for future therapy in that it appears the moderate overexpression of wild-type PRPF31 may prevent clinical manifestation of the disease.
Blunted cortisol responses to psychosocial stress in asthmatic children: a general feature of atopic disease?
These findings suggest that a blunted adrenocortical response to stress may represent a common feature of chronic allergic inflammatory processes that may be relevant in different forms of chronic manifestation of atopy.
Does depression influence symptom severity in irritable bowel syndrome?
The unusual co-occurrence of IBS with bipolar disorder provides direct evidence to indicate that depression does not necessarily lead to an increase in the reported severity of IBS, at least in the context of bipolar disorder, and may under certain circumstances actually be associated with a reduction in the severity of IBS symptoms. Factors that might moderate the relationship between depression and symptom severity are discussed.
Do peritoneal macrophages play an essential role in the progression of acute pancreatitis in rats?
Peritoneal macrophages extend inflammation from the pancreas to the peritoneal cavity and subsequently induce lung injury in acute pancreatitis. Peritoneal macrophages play an essential role in the systemic inflammatory response and the progression of acute pancreatitis in the rat.
Long-term survival following Kasai portoenterostomy: is chronic liver disease inevitable?
A sizable proportion of children with EHBA avoid significant chronic liver disease and its complications 10 years or more after conventional surgical correction and have an excellent quality of life. Their good outcome is not hampered by isolated episodes of ascending cholangitis. Whether or not the residual histologic damage will become symptomatic during their lifetime remains to be established.
Shortage of donation despite an adequate number of donors: a professional attitude?
In The Netherlands, when taking into account current refusal percentages, 320 to 360 organ donations and 5,800 tissue donations could be effectuated if organ donation is posed to all possible donors. For this, knowledge of medical criteria and contraindications for donation by the physicians and their willingness to discuss donation with next of kin must be improved.
Is posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD) caused by any specific immunosuppressive drug or by the transplantation per se?
We found no evidence to implicate any one drug regime preferentially in the development of PTLDs. The risk of developing PTLD seems to be a result of the whole transplantation process, which includes the antigenicity of the foreign graft, the immunosuppression resulting in inadequate cytotoxic T-cell activity, and the result of EBV infection. An important minority of cases are EBV negative.
Is there an inhibitory role of cortisol in the mechanism of male sexual arousal and penile erection?
Our results strongly suggest an inhibitory role for cortisol in the mechanism of male sexual response and behaviour. These properties are mediated rather via an effect on central structures than on the penile erectile tissue. Future studies to include patients suffering from erectile dysfunction may reveal whether or not there are differences in the cortisol serum profiles of healthy subjects and patients under different stages of sexual arousal.
Nasal and hand carriage of Staphylococcus aureus in staff at a Department for Thoracic and Cardiovascular Surgery: endogenous or exogenous source?
Half of the HCWs acquired S. aureus on the hands from patients or the environment and half did so by apparent self-inoculation from the nose. Regardless of the source of contamination, good compliance with hand hygiene is needed from all HCWs to protect patients from nosocomial infections. The moderate rate of S. aureus carriage on hands in this setting could be the result of the routine use of alcoholic hand antisepsis.
Does impaired left ventricular relaxation affect P wave dispersion in patients with hypertension?
This study suggests that impaired LV relaxation contributes to the heterogeneous atrial conduction in hypertensive patients.
Does overnight normalization of plasma glucose by insulin infusion affect assessment of glucose metabolism in Type 2 diabetes?
Apart from basal rates of Rd, assessment of glucose turnover rates in euglycaemic clamp studies of Type 2 diabetic patients is not dependent on the method by which plasma glucose levels are lowered.
Is the conservative management of chronic retention in men ever justified?
Complications such as renal failure, acute retention and UTIs are uncommon in men with large, chronic PVRs. Conservative management for this group of patients is reasonable but outpatient review is prudent. There were no factors that could be used to predict those patients who eventually required surgery.
Open mini-access ureterolithotomy: the treatment of choice for the refractory ureteric stone?
MAU is a safe and reliable minimally invasive procedure; its role is mainly confined to salvage for failed first-line stone treatments but in selected cases, where a poor outcome can be predicted from other methods, it is an excellent first-line treatment.
The minimum data set weight-loss quality indicator: does it reflect differences in care processes related to weight loss?
The MDS weight-loss quality indicator reflects differences in the prevalence of weight loss between NHs. NHs with a lower prevalence of weight loss have fewer residents at risk for weight loss and staff who provide verbal prompting and social interaction to more residents during meals, but the adequacy and quality of feeding assistance care needs improvement in all NHs.
Prehospital DNR orders: what do physicians in Washington know?
The findings in this study suggest that most physicians in Washington State lack knowledge about the documentation needed for EMS personnel to forgo pre-hospital attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Further study is needed to determine whether physician education or legislative change is necessary.
Does lipoprotein(a) inhibit elastolysis in abdominal aortic aneurysms?
this preliminary study indicate that Lp(a) inhibit elastolysis in asymptomatic AAA.
Thin-section CT of the lung: does electrocardiographic triggering influence diagnosis?
Given the lack of improvement in diagnostic accuracy and the need for additional resources, ECG-triggered thin-section CT of the lung is not recommended for routine clinical practice.
Tanning facility use: are we exceeding Food and Drug Administration limits?
Interventions for tanning bed operators and patrons are needed to increase compliance with federally recommended exposure limits.
Are there racial and sex differences in the use of oral isotretinoin for acne management in the United States?
Patients who are black receive less oral isotretinoin than those who are white, and the expense of isotretinoin appears to be one factor in this difference. Women are less likely than men to receive isotretinoin at acne visits. Expense does not appear to be a factor in this difference. Dermatologists have more experience than nondermatologists managing acne, prescribing isotretinoin, and counseling women treated with isotretinoin concerning pregnancy prevention. Pregnancy prevention is an essential component of isotretinoin use in women that must not be ignored.
Are breastfeeding and complementary feeding of children of adolescent mothers different from those of adult mothers?
Duration and pattern of breastfeeding were similar between children of adolescent mothers and of adult mothers. The complementary nutrition was similar, except for a lower intake of meat and a higher intake of eggs among the children of adolescent mothers.
Does violence in the emotional relationships make STD/AIDS prevention more difficult?
The study showed that there is an important association between violence in the emotional relationships and the inconsistent use of condoms in the group studied. Therefore, preventive measures should be taken regarding youth behavior that involves the risk of STD/AIDS infection, associated with campaigns against violence.
Is low antiepileptic drug dose effective in long-term seizure-free patients?
Leaving seizure free patients on low AED dose did not reduce the risk for seizure recurrence. That is, once the decision of AED withdrawal has been established, it should be complete.
Parental perception of waiting time and its influence on parental satisfaction in an urban pediatric emergency department: are parents accurate in determining waiting time?
Parents tend to overestimate waiting time. Both perceived and actual waiting times that exceed 2 hours were associated with parental dissatisfaction. ED administrators may need to keep this in mind when arranging ED staffing patterns to match peak patient hours to achieve optimal parental satisfaction.
Do poison center guidelines adversely affect patient outcomes as triage referral values increase?
Referral values as high as 201 mg/kg for APAP and 61 mg/kg for Fe do not appear to adversely affect patient outcomes.
Is [18F]-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose (FDG) scintigraphy with non-dedicated positron emission tomography useful in the diagnostic management of suspected metastatic thyroid carcinoma in patients with no detectable radioiodine uptake?
nPET-FDG has a high sensitivity for the detection of tumour sites in patients when pathological iodine uptake cannot be demonstrated and appears to be a useful method in patients with elevated Tg levels, especially when dedicated PET is either unavailable or impractical.
Do patients with schizophrenia consciously recollect emotional events better than neutral events?
Patients with schizophrenia consciously recollected emotional words better than neutral words.
Are impairments of action monitoring and executive control true dissociative dysfunctions in patients with schizophrenia?
This finding suggests that dysfunction of self-monitoring in schizophrenia does not necessarily reflect a general decline in cognitive function but is evidence of disproportionately pronounced impairment of action monitoring, which may be mediated by a distinct subsystem within the brain's executive attention networks.
Is HbA(1c) affected by glycemic instability?
HbA(1c) reflects mean glycemia and is not meaningfully affected by glycemic instability after adjusting for mean BG.
Moderate alcohol consumption, estrogen replacement therapy, and physical activity are associated with increased insulin sensitivity: is abdominal adiposity the mediator?
Moderate alcohol consumption, estrogen replacement, and physical activity are associated with increased insulin sensitivity in female twins. The favorable effects of moderate alcohol consumption and physical activity on insulin sensitivity are partly mediated by lower abdominal adiposity.
Low insulin sensitivity (S(i) = 0) in diabetic and nondiabetic subjects in the insulin resistance atherosclerosis study: is it associated with components of the metabolic syndrome and nontraditional risk factors?
We found very few subjects with S(i) = 0 among subjects with NGT and few subjects with S(i) = 0 among subjects with IGT. In contrast, S(i) = 0 was common in subjects with diabetes. Subjects with S(i) = 0 tended to have more features of the insulin resistance syndrome than other insulin-resistant subjects with S(i)>0, as would be expected of subjects with almost no insulin-mediated glucose disposal, thus suggesting that subjects with S(i) = 0 are correctly classified as being very insulin resistant rather than having failed the minimal model program.
Prevalence of measles susceptibility among health care workers in a UK hospital. Does the UK need to introduce a measles policy for its health care workers?
The prevalence of measles non-immune health care workers is low, but with a fall in uptake of MMR immunization and increased likelihood of measles outbreaks, it is important to identify these at-risk individuals. Serum testing is the most reliable method to use. Oral fluid testing and history of measles disease or vaccination are unreliable methods of identifying non-immune individuals. To achieve complete immunity, it is cost-effective to screen and then offer immunization. NHS trusts vary greatly in their measles policies for health care workers.
Does influenza vaccination increase consultations, corticosteroid prescriptions, or exacerbations in subjects with asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease?
Older people with asthma or COPD commonly have diagnoses recorded or prescriptions for oral corticosteroids given on the day of influenza vaccination, but there is no increased risk of adverse acute outcomes in the first 2 weeks after vaccination. Our findings strongly suggest that influenza vaccination is safe in this population.
Can a self-management programme delivered by a community pharmacist improve asthma control?
A self-management programme delivered by a community pharmacist can improve asthma control in individuals recruited at a community pharmacy. Further studies should attempt to confirm these findings using larger samples and a wider range of outcome measures.
Building a better quality measure: are some patients with 'poor quality' actually getting good care?
Simple intermediate outcome measures can be an inaccurate reflection of true quality of care, and many patients classified as having substandard quality by "poor control" might actually be receiving good quality of care.
Does the ownership of the admitting hospital make a difference?
Although outcomes did not vary by ownership, for-profit hospitals were more likely to use expensive, high-tech procedures. This pattern appears to be the result of for-profit hospitals' propensity to locate in areas with demand for high-tech care for AMI.
Primary gastric Burkitt lymphoma in childhood: associated with Helicobacter pylori?
Primary gastric NHL in childhood is rare. It was found in fewer than 2% of our NHL patients. The temporal relationship between the H. pylori infection and BL suggest a causative link between these two events.
Undetermined deaths: are they suicides?
Underestimation of actual number of suicides could be assumed, given the similarities with the group of undetermined deaths in both seasonality and marital status. As some differences were obtained between the two groups in sex and age, we may conclude that some cases of older women suicides are concealed within the undetermined deaths group.
Is the high frequency of Caesarean sections in a highly specialized gyneco-obstetric hospital justifiable?
The incidence of cesarean section in similar third level concentration hospitals in this country ranks from 20 to 40%. At HGO3 it was 72.51% in the last year (2001). This suggests that pregnancy comorbidity seen at this hospital, may be proportionally larger than in other similar units, because two thirds of patients had a high risk pregnancy and, if not, they had an obstetric or fetal justification for cesarean section in 80% of cases.
Is adherence to drug treatment correlated with health-related quality of life?
Correlations between HRQL and adherence were positive but typically weak or negligible in magnitude.
Are reciprocal changes a consequence of "ischemia at a distance" or merely a benign electrical phenomenon?
Reciprocal ST segment depression during the early phases of inferior infarction is an electrical reflection of primary ST segment elevation in the area of infarction.
Is obesity a risk factor for cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization?
Obesity appears to be a risk factor for cirrhosis-related death or hospitalization among persons who consume little or no alcohol.
Restoration of locomotion in paraplegics with aid of autologous bypass grafts for direct neurotisation of muscles by upper motor neurons--the future: surgery of the spinal cord?
Further studies in primates and paraplegic patients are necessary to clarify the bypass grafting of the SC to muscle groups distal to the complete SCI to restore locomotion.
Night-time frequency, sleep disturbance and general health-related quality of life: is there a relation?
Night-time frequency appeared to be associated with GHQL mainly by affecting sleep conditions, a symptom that independently influenced some aspects of GHQL.
Are voiding symptoms really associated with abnormal urodynamic voiding parameters in women?
Poor steam and strain are weakly predictive of abnormal voiding function.
Is it possible to predict the procedural time of endoscopic submucosal dissection for early gastric cancer?
The procedural time of ESD with a Flex knife for EGC can be predicted by tumor size, location, and existence of ulcerative findings. The estimation of procedural time may be very useful to determine the operation schedule.
The activation peptide of thrombin-activatable fibrinolysis inhibitor: a role in activity and stability of the enzyme?
The data presented in this article show that the activation peptide of TAFI is not required for TAFIa activity and that the activation peptide has no effect on the stability of the enzyme. These results are in favour of a model in which the activation peptide solely stabilizes the structure of the proenzyme. After activation of TAFI and subsequent breakage of interactions between the activation peptide and the catalytic domain, the activation peptide is no longer capable of performing this stabilizing task, and the integrity of the catalytic domain is lost rapidly. The resulting TAFIai is more prone to proteolysis and aggregation.
Is the action taken by Catalonian primary care doctors adequate in view of the insufficient reduction in blood pressure levels in hypertensive patients?
Combined therapy is used in almost half of hypertensive patients, with the most common action being a drug combination.
Nothing new under the heavens: MIH in the past?
The extensive lesions seen on many of the molars displayed cuspal enamel hypoplasia (CEH). Many of these teeth also exhibited Molar Incisal Hypomineralisation (MIH).
Pancreatic injury in damage control laparotomies: Is pancreatic resection safe during the initial laparotomy?
The presence of shock or major vascular injury dictates the extent of pancreatic operative intervention. While pancreatic resection may be required in selected damage control patients, packing with pancreatic drainage effectively controls both haemorrhage and abdominal contamination in patients with life-threatening physiological parameters and may lead to improved survival. Increased mortality rates in patients who were packed without drainage suggest that packing without drainage is ineffective and should be abandoned.
N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in systemic sclerosis: a new cornerstone of cardiovascular assessment?
NT-proBNP reliably detected the presence of cardiac involvement and appears to be a very useful marker to risk stratify patients presenting with SSc.
Epidemiological surveillance of mycoplasmas belonging to the 'Mycoplasma mycoides' cluster: is DGGE fingerprinting of 16S rRNA genes suitable?
The DGGE technique is robust and valuable as a first-line test, but the patterns obtained for strains belonging to the 'M. mycoides' cluster were too variable within a taxon and in contrast too conserved between taxa to allow an unequivocal identification of isolates without further analysis.
Does leisure time physical activity in early pregnancy protect against pre-eclampsia?
We were unable to document a protective effect of leisure time physical activity against pre-eclampsia. Our data even suggest that leisure time physical activity exceeding 270 minutes/week in first trimester may increase risk of severe pre-eclampsia.
Is TrpM5 a reliable marker for chemosensory cells?
We conclude that TrpM5 is not a reliable marker for chemosensory cells. The TrpM5-positive cells of the olfactory epithelium are microvillous and may be chemoresponsive albeit not part of the sensory apparatus. Activity of these microvillous cells may however influence functionality of local elements of the olfactory system.
Do proton-pump inhibitors increase the risk for nosocomial pneumonia in a medical intensive care unit?
Prior use of a proton-pump inhibitor did not correlate with a significant increase in the risk of developing NP. This risk was higher with the administration of sedatives or neuromuscular blockers, increased disease severity, and placement of a central venous catheter.
A tale of two countries--the United States and Japan: are differences in health due to differences in overweight?
Despite similar standards of living and health care systems for older persons, the conditions associated with poor health differ in the US and Japan. Being overweight or obese appears to be related to more functioning problems and arthritis in the US than in Japan.
Is there a distinct form of developmental dyslexia in children with specific language impairment?
This study confirms that there are parallels between dyslexic children with language disorders and their dyslexic peers with intact language skills, at least in terms of their performance on reading and writing tests.
Idiopathic subarachnoid hemorrhage and venous drainage: are they related?
In patients with ISAH, deep cerebral venous drainage more commonly drains directly into dural sinuses instead of via the vein of Galen compared with patients with ASAH and patients without intracranial hemorrhage. The way in which this venous configuration might influence bleeding remains unknown.
Is the treatment response in elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis diminished?
DMARD or TNF-alpha-inhibitors improve disease activity and pain in elderly patients with RA no less than in younger patients. However, in contrast to the younger patients, the older patients profit less in terms of functional impairment.
Magnetic toys: forbidden for pediatric patients with certain programmable shunt valves?
This is the first report describing changes in the pressure setting of some adjustable valves caused by magnetic toys in close contact. Parents, surgeons, neurologists, pediatric oncologists, and paramedics should be informed about the potential dangers of magnetic toys to prevent unwanted changes to pressure settings.
Does the expression of cyclin E, pRb, and p21 correlate with prognosis in gastric adenocarcinoma?
The expression of cyclin E could not predict the survival in this series of patients with gastric cancer, whereas the expression of pRb and p21 was associated with a favorable prognosis.
Synaptic plasticity: the new explanation of visceral hypersensitivity in rats with Trichinella spiralis infection?
Synaptic plasticity was observed in SD rats infected by Trichinella spiralis and was associated with visceral sensitivity, which suggests that it may play an important role in the formation of visceral hypersensitivity.
A survey of patient advocates within the National Cancer Institute's Prostate Cancer SPORE Program: who are they?
Prostate cancer patient advocates provide a broad range of opinions on the spectrum of cancer care. Similar studies among advocates involved in other malignancies may be worthwhile.
Selective enamel etching reconsidered: better than etch-and-rinse and self-etch?
Enamel bonding was generally more effective with phosphoric-acid etching. Enamel bonding performance of 2-step self-etching adhesives was improved when phosphoric acid was applied on enamel selectively.
Do children with ADHD and/or PDD-NOS differ in reactivity of alpha/theta ERD/ERS to manipulations of cognitive load and stimulus relevance?
The results supply no evidence for a distinction in information processing abilities of selective attention and working memory as reflected by alpha and theta ERD/ERS between children diagnosed with either ADHD, PDD-NOS or healthy controls.
Do increased training requirements in gastrointestinal endoscopy and advanced laparoscopy necessitate a paradigm shift?
PDs employ and may implement varied tools to meet the increased requirements in endoscopy and laparoscopy. With such variability in educational methodology, establishment of a national surgical education curriculum is very important to most PDs.
Does training novices to criteria and does rapid acquisition of skills on laparoscopic simulators have predictive validity or are we just playing video games?
Using current criteria, we doubt that the time and effort spent training novice PGY1 Surgical Residents on the basic LapSim training programs is justified, as such training to competence lacks predictive validity in most domains of the GOALS program. We are investigating 2 other approaches: more difficult training exercises using the LapSim system and an entirely different approach using haptic technology (ProMis; Haptica Ltd., Ireland), which uses real instruments, with training on realistic 3-dimensional models with real rather than simulated cutting, sewing, and dissection. Although experienced video gamers achieve competency faster than nongamers on LapSim programs, that skill set does not translate into improved clinical performance.
Improving outcomes on the ABS Certifying Examination: can monthly mock orals do it?
Monthly simulated and critiqued oral examinations improved the first-time pass rate of the American Board of Surgery Certifying Examination. Additional perceived benefits of this intervention included improvements in clinical reasoning and promotion of self-study.
Does antioxidant system adaptive response alleviate related oxidative damage with long term bed rest?
Exercise alleviates hypokinesia outcomes by preserving glutathione reductase activity with minor effect on hypokinesia-induced antioxidant response and oxidative stress which both exhibit a high magnitude inter-individual variability. Return to initial physical activity allows biomarkers to return to initial values marking the end of the stress. Hypokinetic situations should be considered as an oxidative stressful situation requiring exercise and nutritional strategies.
Are encapsulated anterior glass-ionomer restoratives better than their hand-mixed equivalents?
Encapsulated anterior GI restoratives outperform their hand-mixed equivalents for the range of powder to liquid mixing ratios routinely encountered clinically such that they are advocated for use in clinical practice. Anhydrous GI restorative formulations are more susceptible to clinically induced variability on mixing compared with conventional GI restorative formulations that contained a polyalkenoic acidic liquid.
Diagnosing papillary lesions using vacuum-assisted breast biopsy: should conservative or surgical management follow?
Conservative management of patients with a papillary lesion diagnosis may follow when the extended VABB protocol is adopted and a great tissue volume is excised. However, when diagnosing a coexisting papillary lesion with a precursor breast lesion, open surgery should follow, given the high probability of a postoperative cancer diagnosis.