BACKGROUND: Microvascular decompression (MVD) is a non-ablative technique designed to resolve the neurovascular conflict responsible for typical idiopathic trigeminal neuralgia (TN). METHOD: With the patient in a supine position, a small elliptical retrosigmoid craniectomy is used to approach the cerebellopontine angle and the trigeminal nerve. After careful exploration of the ...

Different studies have proved that the resistance/susceptibility to mastitis is genetically determined. The major histocompatibility complex in cows is known as bovine lymphocyte antigen (BoLA). Genes from the BoLA have been associated with the occurrence of infectious diseases such as mastitis and leukosis, especially the BoLA-DRB gene. The object of ...

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry is an established soft ionization method that is widely applied to analyze biomolecules. The UV-absorbing organic matrix is essential for biomolecule ionization; however, it also creates matrix background interference, which results in problematic analyses of biomolecules of less than 700 Da. Therefore, this study investigates ...

A case of massive irreducible procidentia with a hard palpable mass in the anterior vaginal wall mimicking an impacted faecal mass in a 57-year-old multiparous, post-menopausal woman is reported. Inability to walk, constipation and urinary incontinence were her primary complaints. Routine CT of the abdomen and pelvis excluded intestinal pathology, ...

Blood vessels and endothelial cells (ECs) are highly versatile in order to accomplish local tissutal needs in the physiological and pathological conditions. Tumor vasculature, in particular, exhibits special morphological and functional features, partly due to the peculiarity of tumor-derived ECs (TECs). This is of great importance for the discovery of ...

Gallic acid is known as a potent antioxidant active compound of the edible and medicinal plant Peltiphyllum peltatum. The main objective of this study was to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of gallic acid against sodium fluoride induced oxidative stress in rat brain. Gallic acid (10 and 20 mg/kg) and vitamin C ...

Aim:  This paper describes the developmental trajectory of adiposity in relation to socio-demographic status in primary schoolchildren studying in local schools in Hong Kong. Methods:  Body mass index (BMI) and prevalence of overweight and obesity were determined in a cohort of primary schoolchildren annually from 2001/2002 to 2005/2006. To study ...

BACKGROUND: Metastatic breast cancer (MBC) is generally incurable. However, 10-20-year relapse-free survival of MBC is approximately 2%, implying that at least a small subset of MBC patients achieve prolonged survival. We therefore analyzed long-term outcome in a particular subset, i.e., oligometastatic breast cancer (OMBC). METHODS: Data of OMBC subjects (N = 75) ...

To evaluate efficacy in multiple endpoints in confirmatory clinical trials is a challenging problem in multiple hypotheses testing. The difficulty comes from the different importance of each endpoint and their underlying correlation. Current approaches to this problem, which test the efficacy in certain dose-endpoint combinations and collate the results, are ...

The prophylactic use of antibiotics can only be justified when clinical benefits on relevant patient outcomes, such as morbidity or mortality, cost-effectiveness, and absence of immediate emergence of antibiotic resistance have been unequivocally demonstrated. In some intensive care unit (ICU) patients, antibiotic prophylaxis is used as part of selective digestive ...

The aim of this study was to evaluate fracture risk after onset of myasthenia gravis using the UK General Practice Research Database. Overall fracture risk is not statistically increased compared with age- and gender-matched controls irrespective of glucocorticoid use, but was increased in those using antidepressants, anxiolytics or anticonvulsants. INTRODUCTION: ...

There is convincing evidence to suggest a strong genetic component to psoriatic arthritis (PsA), with studies reporting a 40-fold risk to first-degree relatives of patients with disease. However, compared with rheumatoid arthritis, our understanding of the genetic etiology of PsA is less well-developed. Only three modestly sized genome-wide association studies ...

IL-6 plays a key role in local and systemic manifestation of RA. IL-6 is not only a pro-inflammatory cytokine, but also interacts in complex ways with the cells involved in bone remodeling. In RA, IL-6 may indirectly promote osteoclastogenesis by increasing the release of RANK-L by osteoblasts, and it diminishes ...

Radiofluorinated 4-fluorobenzonitrile oxide and N-hydroxy-4-fluorobenzimidoyl chloride rapidly react with different alkenes and alkynes under mild conditions. These cycloadditions are suitable for the preparation of low-molecular weight radiopharmaceuticals and, in a strain-promoted variant, can enable easy labelling of sensitive biopolymers.

Our recent in vivo study has demonstrated that a single 17β-oestradiol (E2) treatment reduced the loss in the cholinergic fibre density in the cortex following N-Methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) lesion into the nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM) of the basal forebrain (BF) in young female mice. In the present study, we examined ...

Multivariate meta-analysis allows the joint synthesis of multiple correlated outcomes from randomised trials, and is an alternative to a separate univariate meta-analysis of each outcome independently. Usually not all trials report all outcomes; furthermore, outcome reporting bias (ORB) within trials, where an outcome is measured and analysed but not reported ...

INTRODUCTION AND HYPOTHESIS: Here we describe anatomic and quality of life (QOL) outcomes of an anterior and apical compartment prolapse repair involving a reduced mesh implant size and apex-only fixation. METHODS: One hundred and fifteen patients undergoing the repair at a single urogynecology center were assessed using the Pelvic Organ ...

Background:  Thoracic Multidisciplinary meetings (TMDMs) are a key component of lung cancer patient management. The optimal design, organization and function of TMDMs are uncertain and different models may serve different purposes. In the Auckland/Northland region there are two contemporaneous weekly TMDMs employing different formats, one is a co-located meeting (C-TMDM); ...

While FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) in adult patients has documented advantages and disadvantages compared with conventional imaging, to our knowledge, no studies of FDG PET/CT for the evaluation of NPC in pediatric patients have been performed. In this investigation, we studied the utility of FDG ...

BACKGROUND: Color Doppler US (CDUS) has been used for evaluation of cerebral venous sinuses in neonates. However, there is very limited information available regarding the appearance of superficial and deep normal cerebral venous sinuses using CDUS and the specificity of the technique to rule out disease. OBJECTIVE: To determine the ...

Modularly structured signaling networks coordinate the fate and function of complex biological systems. Each component in the network performs a discrete computational operation, but when connected to each other intricate functionality emerges. Here we study such an architecture by connecting auxin signaling modules and inducible protein biotinylation systems with transcriptional ...

Our previous results showed that β-cyclodextrin-hemin complex (CDH) exhibited a vital protective role against cadmium-induced oxidative damage and toxicity in alfalfa seedling roots by the regulation of heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) gene expression. In this report, we further test whether CDH exhibited the hormonal-like response. The application of CDH and an ...

We present the case of a postmenopausal woman who developed bladder polyps leading to serious abdominal pain, dysuria with mucus and blood, and urinary incontinence after anterior vaginal wall repair using Avaulta anterior mesh (Bard®). All of these symptoms resolved after mesh removal. This case emphasizes that not all complications ...

INTRODUCTION: Injuries of the occipital condyles are rare. While the majority of occipital condyle fractures can be treated conservatively, surgery is recommended in craniocervical misalignment and instability. Open reduction and temporary occipito-cervical stabilization might be an alternative to fusion or halo treatment. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This Grand Round case presentation ...

Aims:  To assess the management of epileptic seizures and status epilepticus in adult patients at Auckland City Hospital emergency department. This information will form the basis of future seizure management protocols and further research on the management of status epilepticus. Methods:  The pre-hospital and acute hospital management of all adult ...

BACKGROUND: Clinical use of 3D CT for fetal skeletal malformations is controversial. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of fetal 3D CT using three protocols with different radiation doses and through comparing findings between fetal CT and conventional postnatal radiographic skeletal survey. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ...

Aims:  To ascertain the characteristics and short-term outcomes of infants born to illicit drug-using mothers in public hospitals in the state of New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory during 2004. Methods:  Patients were identified retrospectively by hospital records searches using ICD-10 morbidity codes and records of local Drug ...

An objective method based on partial least-squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) was used to assign an oil lump collected on the coastline to a suspected source. The approach is an add-on to current US and European oil fingerprinting standard procedures that are based on lengthy and rather subjective visual comparison of ...

OBJECTIVES: The traditional view that multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disease has recently been challenged by the claim that MS is caused by chronic cerebrospinal venous insufficiency (CCSVI). Although several studies have questioned this vascular theory, the CCSVI controversy is still ongoing. Our aim was to assess the prevalence ...

Autologous keratoplasty from an amblyopic eye to the fellow oculus ultimus is a rarely used procedure. This is due to the relatively uncommon constellation of pathology. The following article reports the case of a graft rejection after autologous keratoplasty, while the homologous graft on the amblyopic fellow eye remained clear.

OBJECTIVE: We describe the use of imaging in the management of adjustable gastric-banding patients, and describe complications of banding that are diagnosed by imaging. MATERIALS & METHODS: Using a four-year period as an example of complications of this type of laparoscopic approach, we have retrospectively identified all patients with laparoscopic ...

This study developed a simple, sensitive, and selective molecular beacon for detecting nucleic acids at room temperature based on coralyne induced conformational change of a MB through A(2)-coralyne-A(2) coordination.

Objective: To investigate pregnancy outcomes of patients with and without group-B streptococcus (GBS) bacteriuria. Methods: A retrospective study comparing pregnancy outcomes of women with GBS bacteriuria during pregnancy, those with positive GBS vaginal cultures and those without GBS colonization during pregnancy was conducted. Results: A significant linear association was found ...

The supplementary motor area (SMA) is a secondary motor area that is involved in various complex hand movements. In animal studies, short latency and probably direct excitatory inputs from SMA to the primary motor cortex (M1) have been established. Although human imaging studies revealed functional connectivity between SMA and M1, ...

PURPOSE: To provide insight into the factors by which obesity in itself may directly lead to early arterial damage, we aimed to determine early sonographic markers of obesity-related vascular dysfunction in young obese males. METHODS: Thirty-five young obese males and 23 age-matched healthy male volunteers were recruited into the study. ...

In this work, the use of foam-like glass-ceramic scaffolds as trabecular coatings on ceramic prosthetic devices to enhance implant osteointegration is proposed. The feasibility of this innovative device was explored in a simplified, flat geometry: glass-ceramic scaffolds, prepared by polymeric sponge replication and mimicking the trabecular architecture of cancellous bone, ...

Previous report demonstrated that prokinetic agent mosapride has anti-ulcerogenic action in rat-indomethacin gastric mucosal injury model. Here, we assessed the prophylactic effect of mosapride on gastric mucosal injury and emptying disorder induced by prednisolone in dogs. Crossover study design was employed. Six healthy beagles were administered prednisolone alone (2 mg/kg, ...

Inflammation plays a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. Endometriosis-associated ovarian carcinogenesis might be promoted through oxidative stress-induced increased genomic instability, aberrant methylation, and aberrant chromatin remodeling, as well as mutations of tumor suppressor genes. Aberrant expression of ARID1A, PIK3CA, and NF-kB genes has been recognized as the major target ...

BACKGROUND: Affect may be important for understanding physical activity behavior. PURPOSE: To examine whether affective valence (i.e., good/bad feelings) during and immediately following a brief walk predicts concurrent and future physical activity. METHODS: At months 6 and 12 of a 12-month physical activity promotion trial, healthy low-active adults (N = 146) reported affective ...

Transcatheter aortic valve implantation is a novel therapeutic approach for high-risk patients with severe symptomatic aortic stenosis. The success rate of this new procedure is high; however, it is associated with issues such as vascular access site complications and embolization related to the advancement of a large bore delivery catheter ...

Durability is an important issue in proton-exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). One of the major challenges lies in the degradation caused by the oxidation of the carbon support under high anode potentials (under fuel starvation conditions). Herein, we report highly stable, carbon-free, WO(3) nanoclusters as catalyst supports. The WO(3) nanoclusters ...

Several zirconium-based metal-organic frameworks (Zr-MOFs) have been synthesized using ammonium hydroxide as an additive in the synthesis process. Their physicochemical properties have been characterized by N(2) adsorption/desorption, XRD, SEM, FTIR, and TGA, and their application in CO(2) adsorption was evaluated. It was found that addition of ammonium hydroxide produced some ...

The relationship between weight status and asthma characteristics in children remains inadequately defined. Very little has been published on the risk of exacerbation, physician perception of severity, and the level controller treatment prescribed to underweight and obese children with asthma in a real-world setting. We assessed the diagnostic severity, pulmonary ...

Under normal conditions, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)-induced activation of its cell surface receptor, the Met tyrosine kinase (TK), is tightly regulated by paracrine ligand delivery, ligand activation at the target cell surface, and ligand-activated receptor internalization and degradation. Despite these controls, HGF/Met signaling contributes to oncogenesis and tumor progression in ...

There is a shortage of therapeutical agents for invasive cervical cancer in late stages of development; however, a number of promising molecules are currently in early phases of development. AREAS COVERED: This review briefly discusses the current achievements in treating cervical cancer with an emphasis in emerging agents based on ...

Subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality, even for patients who receive early neurointerventionist management. AREAS COVERED: Early mechanisms of secondary brain injury precede the delayed vasospasm phase and contribute to the poor outcome. These mechanisms and their intervention are discussed, including high intracranial pressure (ICP), low ...

NKG2D (natural killer group 2, member D) is expressed on the surface of all mouse and human NK cells, and subpopulation of T cells. Stimulation of NK cells through NKG2D triggers cell-mediated cytotoxicity and induces the production of cytokines. NKG2D binds to family of unique ligands with structurally similar to ...

The pandemic human pathogen, Staphylococcus aureus, displays high levels of antibiotic resistance and is a major cause of hospital- and community-associated infections. S. aureus disease manifestation is to a great extent due to the production of a large arsenal of virulence factors, which include a series of secreted toxins. Antibodies ...

The chemokine fractalkine/CX3CL1 and its highly selective receptor CX3CR1 mediate critical physiological events during inflammatory responses. The fractalkine/CX3CR1 axis has been shown to play a key role in the pathogenesis and the progression of a large number of diseases in which imbalance of the immune response is frequently seen. Since ...

Invasive fungal infections remain a leading cause of infectious morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised patients. There are relatively few effective antifungal agents, and currently available agents all have significant limitations. Isavuconazole is a novel second-generation triazole with broad-spectrum antifungal activity, and a favorable pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic profile. Isavuconazole is available as an ...