Part C early intervention is a nationwide program that serves infants and toddlers who have developmental delays. This article presents a methodology for computing a theoretical estimate of the proportion of children who are likely to be eligible for Part C services based on delays in any of the 5 ...

PURPOSE: To reduce the socio-economic burden of persistent low back pain (LBP), factors influencing the progression of acute/subacute LBP to the persistent state must be identified at an early stage. METHODS: Prospective inception cohort study of patients attending a health practitioner for their first episode of acute/subacute or recurrent LBP. ...

Asthma exacerbations are major contributors to asthma morbidity and rather difficult to treat. There is inconclusive evidence that macrolide antibiotics may have an effect on asthma exacerbations through their antibacterial and/or anti-inflammatory properties. The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of clarithromycin on medium-term asthma activity when ...

Anti-viral immune responses have been studied extensively in order to inform rational vaccine design. Following viral infection, the balance of pathologic and protective antibody responses in the host can critically influence clinical outcomes. Comparisons of the different classes of antibodies produced after acute or chronic viral infections have uncovered common ...

PURPOSE: Diagnostic vitrectomy is frequently used to help establish a diagnosis in challenging uveitis cases. The usefulness of this procedure in patients with suspected sarcoidosis with posterior segment involvement, in whom a diagnosis cannot be determined by conventional methods, has not been well-described. We hypothesized that diagnostic vitrectomy would help ...

Aromatase inhibitor (AI)-related bone loss is associated with increased fracture rates. Vitamin D might play a role in minimising this effect. We hypothesised that 25-hydroxy-vitamin D concentrations [25(OH)D] after 3 months supplementation might relate to bone loss after 1 year on AI therapy. We conducted a prospective cohort study from January 2006 ...

Ecology Letters (2012) ABSTRACT: Shifts in species' phenology in response to climate change have wide-ranging consequences for ecological systems. However, significant variability in species' responses, together with limited data, frustrates efforts to forecast the consequences of ongoing phenological changes. Herein, we use a case study of three North American plant ...

Leishmaniasis is a group of diseases with a spectrum of clinical manifestations ranging from cutaneous ulcers to visceral leishmaniasis, which results from the bite of an infected sandfly to human. Attempts to develop an effective vaccine have been shown to be feasible but no vaccine is in active clinical use. ...

Hybrid rylene arrays are prepared via combination of Stille coupling and C-H transformation. The ability to extend the π-system along the equatorial axis of rylenes not only leads to broadened light absorption, but also increases the electron affinity which can facilitate electron injection and transport with ambient stability.

The extraordinary electronic, thermal and mechanical properties of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) closely relate to their structure. They can be seen as rolled-up graphene sheets with their electronic properties depending on how this rolling up is achieved. However, this is not the way they actually grow. Various methods are used to ...

INTRODUCTION: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term regenerative capacity over a 15-mm nerve gap of an autologous nerve conduit, the biogenic conduit (BC), 16 weeks after sciatic nerve transection in the rat. METHODS: A 19-mm long polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tube was implanted parallely to the sciatic nerve. ...

The diaphragm muscle is essential for normal ventilation and it is chronically active throughout the lifespan. In most skeletal muscles, aging is associated with increased oxidative stress and myofiber atrophy. Since the diaphragm maintains a unique chronic contractile activity, we hypothesized that these alterations would not occur in senescent diaphragms ...

An efficient approach for achieving radical cyclizations by using hydroxamate ester as a coordination tether with Lewis acid was studied. The chiral Lewis acid-mediated cascade radical addition-cyclization-trapping reaction proceeded smoothly with good enantio- and diastereoselectivities, providing various chiral γ-lactams.

Calculations reveal a multistep pathway towards formation of linear [U](2)-(μ-η(1):η(1)-C(2)O(2)); [U] = U(η-C(8)H(6){SiH(3)-1,4}(2))(η-Cp). However formation of deltate-bridged [U](2)-(μ-η(1):η(2)-C(3)O(3)) requires an alternative mechanism, involving a side-on [U](2)-(μ-η(2):η(2)-CO) complex and whereby the bridging units of [U](2)-(μ-η(2):η(2)-C(n)O(n)) intermediates (n = 1, 2) react directly with free CO.

The anterolateral thigh (ALT) flap has become a workhorse in reconstructive surgery of the head and neck region and the extremities. However, its inconsistent vascular anatomy and frequent intramuscular course of perforators often cause difficulties during the dissection of this versatile flap. Hence, reliable preoperative perforator mapping and identification of ...

Particle size is one important parameter of nanocrystals that need to be tightly controlled, owing to its versatility for tailoring the properties and functions of nanocrystals towards various applications. In this article, oxidative etching by hydrogen chloride is employed as a tool to control the size of metallic nanocrystals. As ...

Combined neurotization of both axillary and suprascapular nerves in shoulder reanimation has been widely accepted in brachial plexus injuries, and the functional outcome is much superior to single nerve transfer. This study describes the surgical anatomy for axillary nerve relative to the available donor nerves and emphasize the salient technical ...

A series of diarylethene-containing N(∧)C chelated thienylpyridine-bis(alkynyl)borane complexes has been designed and synthesized. Their photophysical and photochromic properties have been investigated and presented. The characteristic low-energy absorption band of their closed forms could be readily tuned from the visible range to the near-infrared region.

The early developments of brain positron emission tomography (PET), including the methodological advances that have driven progress, are outlined. The considerable past achievements of brain PET have been summarized in collaboration with contributing experts in specific clinical applications including cerebrovascular disease, movement disorders, dementia, epilepsy, schizophrenia, addiction, depression and anxiety, ...

PURPOSE: The purpose of the study was to characterize the utilization of medication against attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in Denmark between 1995 and 2011 from a national perspective, by using population-based prescription data. METHODS: National data on drug use in Denmark between 1 January 1995 and 30 September 2011 ...

Long-term disabilities are common among stroke survivors and are associated with reduced quality of life (QoL). Research on occupation-based intervention for chronic stroke survivors is sparse. The objective of this study was to examine the effectiveness of neurofunctional treatment (NFT), an occupation-based client-centred treatment approach, for attaining individualised goals in ...

Kabuki syndrome is characterized by distinctive facial features, multiple anomalies and mental retardation. In this syndrome, structural CNS abnormalities are commonly observed, but congenital abnormalities in the pituitary gland or hypothalamus have rarely been reported. We searched the published medical literature on the complications in hypothalamic pituitary axis in this ...

BACKGROUND: Prior study suggests that p53 status behaves as an independent marker of prognosis in African American (AA) women with breast cancer. We investigate whether the influence of p53 is unique to AAs or is present in other race/ethnic groups, and how this compares with known prognostic factors. METHODS: Cox ...

SUMMARY The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of 20% and 35% hydrogen peroxide bleaching gels on the color, opacity, and fluorescence of composite resins. Seven composite resin brands were tested and 30 specimens, 3-mm in diameter and 2-mm thick, of each material were fabricated, for ...

Four ruthenium(ii) complexes, , , , and , have been prepared and characterized by (1)H NMR, (13)C NMR, high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS), elemental analysis, and X-ray crystallography. All the complexes incorporate a pyridyl unit on the terpyridine-type or N-heterocyclic carbene (NHC) ligand and the pyridyl unit can be protonated ...

Cases of suicide by use of elaborate and complex devices are rare in the literature and popular media, despite the media attention such cases attract. These suicide cases have employed guillotines, contraptions involving guns and self-made firearms, and devices capable of delivering asphyxiating gases such as carbon monoxide. All previously ...

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend oral or intravenous doxycycline plus a third-generation cephalosporin or fluoroquinolone alone for the treatment of Vibrio vulnificus infections. Until now, no study has compared oral with parenteral administered doxycycline with respect to their in vivo efficacy. In the present work, ICR ...

Zinc has been shown to increase bone mass and promote bone cell proliferation and differentiation. We, therefore, hypothesized that zinc might be cytoprotective for bone cells during oxidative stress. The cells were divided into H(2)O(2), zinc and zinc + H(2)O(2) groups. In the present study, zinc was found to inhibit H(2)O(2)-induced apoptosis ...

A sensitive imidazole based fluorescent sensor like 4, 5-diphenyl-2(E)-styryl-1H-imidazole, for ZnO has been designed and synthesized via simple steps. The absorption, fluorescence, SEM, EDX and IR studies indicate that imidazole derivative is bound on the surface of ZnO semiconductor. Based on photo-induced electron transfer (PET) mechanism, fluorescent enhancement has been ...

The status of two mesophilic filamentous actinomycetes isolated from an arid Australian soil sample was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The isolates had chemical and morphological properties consistent with their classification in the genus Amycolatopsis, assignments that were supported by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data. Isolate SF26(T) ...

The stretch zone width (SZW) data for 15-5PH steel CTOD specimens fractured at -150°C to + 23°C temperature were measured based on focused images and 3D maps obtained by extended depth-of-field reconstruction from light microscopy (LM) image stacks. This LM-based method, with a larger lateral resolution, seems to be as ...

Among the numerous constituents of eukaryotic cells, the DNA macromolecule is considered as the most important critical target for radiation-induced damages. However, up to now ion-induced collisions on DNA components remain scarcely approached and theoretical support is still lacking for describing the main ionizing processes. In this context, we here ...

OBJECTIVES: We investigated the role of adipokines in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases who received glucocorticoid therapy. METHODS: Fifty-two patients with systemic autoimmune diseases who had started glucocorticoid therapy were prospectively enrolled. One hundred forty healthy persons were also studied as controls. Serum levels of 3 adipokines [resistin, leptin, and ...

Bioflavonoids are plant compounds touted for their potential to treat or prevent several diseases including cancer caused by various stress conditions. Galangin (4H-1-Benzopyran-4-one, 3, 5, 7-trihydroxy-2-phenyl-), a flavonoid, is a polyphenolic compound found primarily in medicinal herb, Alpinia galanga. This study aims to demonstrate the galangin as a pharmacological lead ...

Micron-sized monodisperse poly(ionic liquid) (PIL) particles, poly([2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethylammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)amide), were prepared by dispersion polymerization at 70 °C in methanol with poly(vinylpyrrolidone) as a stabilizer. The obtained particle size could be controlled by addition of ethanol to the methanol medium while maintaining narrow monodispersity. The PIL particles exhibit unique properties; they can ...

Elastin-rich lung extracellular matrix is largely remodeled during tumor invasion. Elastin degradation produces peptides displaying a wide range of biological activities. These elastin derived peptides (EP) interact with the elastin receptor complex (ERC) but also bind to α(V)β(3) integrin and galectin-3. In this study, we explored the role of EP ...

PURPOSE: A number of novel oral anticoagulants, including direct thrombin inhibitors and direct factor Xa inhibitors, have been developed. This review discusses these agents and their respective clinical trials in patients with acute coronary syndromes. METHODS: This review discusses the results of phase 2 and 3 clinical trials with novel ...

PURPOSE: The aim of the study was to test whether calcium citrate combined with rhBMP-2 was able to enhance bone regeneration compared with a matrix containing only rhBMP-2. METHODS: In each of experimental mice, one cylinder of calcium citrate-rhBMP-2 or rhBMP-2 alone was implanted into the thigh muscle pouches of ...

A method based on micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) with UV detection has been developed for the determination of nine 5-nitroimidazoles (5-NDZs), including metabolites in river water samples. Due to the relative insensitivity of UV detection in MEKC, a solid-phase extraction (SPE) method has been proposed that preconcentrates water samples fiftyfold ...

A cell in vivo is part of a large, networked community. An individual cell's fate is strongly influenced by its interactions with neighbouring cells. While this interaction has been recognized as critical in determining cell behaviour, its complexity and heterogeneity has thus far defied characterization by currently available techniques. Herein, ...

Ankle reconstruction prior to limb lengthening for was performed in 13 patients with fibular hemimelia with complete radiological absence of the fibula (type II). There were different degrees of absence of metatarsal rays. The hindfoot deformity was a heel valgus in 12 patients and equinovarus in 1 patient. The patients' ...

Dextran is a family of natural polysaccharides that is widely under investigation for use as polymeric carriers in novel drug delivery systems. The optimal drug delivery (and consequently maximum therapeutic effect) will be accomplished when carrier systems are used mainly for drugs with antitumoral activity, as they increase their blood ...

We have investigated the practicality of implementing a strategy for site-specific editing by homologous recombination in zebrafish analogous to that developed by Rong and Golic (Rong and Golic in Genetics 157:1307-1312, 2001) in Drosophila melanogaster. We analysed approximately 7,300 offspring from 22 crosses and demonstrated successful excision of the gene ...

Rod-shaped bacteria such as Escherichia coli accurately maintain their shape from generation to generation. The cytoskeletal proteins MreB and FtsZ, which respectively guide parallel growth of the sidewall and perpendicular growth of the division septum, are important to maintain a straight sidewall and uniformly rounded cell poles. FtsZ normally assembles ...

Reliable, evaluated human exposure and dose models are important for understanding the health risks from chemicals. A case study focusing on permethrin was conducted because of this insecticide's widespread use and potential health effects. SHEDS-Multimedia was applied to estimate US population permethrin exposures for 3- to 5-year-old children from residential, ...

The initial clinical experience from targeted therapy for breast cancer has been mixed. While important progress has been made in the care of a subset of patients characterized by amplification of HER2 through the use of trastuzumab, other targeted therapies have failed to improve the outcome for large, unselected groups ...

The aim of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of an injectable and partly absorbable calcium bone cement (CERAMENT™, Bone Support, Sweden) in the treatment of osteoporotic or traumatic vertebral fractures by percutaneous vertebroplasty. From March 2009 to October 2010 an open, prospective study in two centres was performed. ...

An unsaturated hydroxy-ester pheromone was isolated from the headspace and feces of male Diaprepes abbreviatus, identified, and synthesized. The pheromone, methyl (E)-3-(2-hydroxyethyl)-4-methyl-2-pentenoate, was discovered by gas chromatography-coupled electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD), and identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR). The synthesis yielded an 86:14 mixture of ...

In Belgium and the Netherlands, up to 40% of the children on dialysis are children with immigrant parents of non-Western European origin (non-Western). Concerns exist regarding whether these non-Western patients receive the same quality of care as children with parents of Western European origin (Western). We compared initial dialysis, post-initial ...

The aim of the study was to report and discuss the preliminary data obtained in a homogeneous series of 50 patients affected by multiple myeloma treated with bisphosphonates. Patients were followed for a minimum of 1 year. Main orthopaedic data were recorded. Visual Analogue Score and QLQ-C30 and MY 20 ...