Public insurance possibly increases the use of health care because of the insured person's interest in maximizing benefits without incurring out-of-pocket costs. A newly reformed public insurance scheme in China that builds on personal responsibility is thus likely to provide insurance without causing moral hazard. This possibility is the focus ...

Maxillofacial fractures are very common. Recognizing patterns of facial fractures is helpful in assessing maxillofacial injury and accurately characterizing all fractures that may be present. Facial fractures are grouped into the following categories: nasal bone, naso-orbito-ethmoid, orbital, zygomatic, maxillary (including Le Fort-type fractures), mandibular, and frontal sinus fractures. Within each ...

: Desmoid tumors associated with familial adenomatous polyposis show variable behavior; about 10% grow relentlessly, resulting in severe morbidity or mortality. Investigations that could identify the minority of desmoid tumors that behave aggressively would allow these tumors to be treated early and spare the majority of patients who have more ...

Pseudomonas fuscovaginae is a phytopathogenic bacterium causing bacterial sheath brown rot of cereal crops. Here, we present the draft genome sequence of P. fuscovaginae CB98818, originally isolated from a diseased rice plant in China. The draft genome will aid in epidemiological studies, comparative genomics, and quarantine of this broad-host-range pathogen.

Using the political economy perspective to examine key long-term care policies and provisions, we uncover some ideological underpinnings of policy-making in Singapore. Family involvement, an inherent part of the long-term care system, is overtly reinforced by legislations and policy imperatives. Further, the government encourages and expects the participation of nonstate ...

Autonomic dysreflexia occurs in patients with spinal cord injury, and is characterized by unbalanced sympathetic discharge, precipitated by noxious stimuli from a site below the spinal cord lesion. An 11-year-old boy with acute disseminated encephalomyelitis and spinal cord involvement manifested episodes of intense flushing and sweating, confined to the head ...

: To describe parental perceptions of decision making concerning their extremely premature newborns who received care in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). : Seven parents of preterm infants who were born at 24 to 26 weeks' gestation at a western Canadian tertiary NICU. : Qualitative, interpretive description, ...

The overlap between interstitial cystitis-painful bladder syndrome and overactive bladder can present a diagnostic challenge to the treating practitioner. Both can present with similar patient symptoms. Further compounding this dilemma is the fact that no gold standard test exists to differentiate one from the other. This review will serve to ...

Cutaneous manifestations are commonly observed in pediatric patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. Acanthosis nigricans, however, is rarely reported, and even less often in association with neuropsychiatric manifestations of lupus erythematosus. We describe a 9-year-old boy with acute behavioral and cognitive deterioration, combined with cutaneous, diffuse hyperpigmented and hyperkeratotic plaques. Cerebral ...

Atherosclerosis is driven by cardiovascular risk factors that cause the recruitment of circulating immune cells beneath the vascular endothelium. Infiltrated monocytes differentiate into different macrophage subtypes with protective or pathogenic activities in vascular lesions. We discuss current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms that regulate lesional macrophage proliferation and apoptosis, two ...

: Whether laparoscopic surgery for colon and rectal cancer is cost-effective in comparison with open surgery remains unclear, because laparoscopic surgery results in shorter hospital stays but is associated with increased equipment costs. : This study aimed to investigate the cost-effectiveness of laparoscopic versus open surgery for colon and rectal ...

The most heterogeneous subtype of neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis comprises the late infantile variant, which, in addition to the classic CLN2, was reported in children with CLN5, CLN6, CLN7/MFSD8, and CLN8 genes. Patients with CLN8 mutations usually present as the late-infantile-onset neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis phenotype and are mostly Turkish and Italian, ...

: Chronic radiation proctopathy is associated with significant morbidity. The effectiveness of endoscopic and medical therapies has not been evaluated. : The aim of this study was to conduct a systematic review of the effectiveness of endoscopic and comparative medical therapies for chronic radiation proctopathy. : A comprehensive search Medline ...

Brucella melitensis is an intracellular pathogen that induces chronic infection in humans. Here, we report the genome sequences of 16M and its two derivatives, 16M1w and 16M13w, which were allowed to adapt in vivo for 1 and 13 weeks, respectively. Our findings contribute to the investigation of adaptive mutations and ...

Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium rough strain-specific phage SSU5 was isolated, and its whole genome was sequenced. The 103,229-bp-long double-stranded DNA genome of SSU5 encodes 130 open reading frames with one tRNA for asparagine. Genomic analysis revealed that SSU5 might be the phylogenetic origin of cryptic plasmid pHCM2 harbored by Salmonella ...

This investigation was aimed at using superparamagnetic particles to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (SPIO-ELISA) of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) to enhance detection sensitivity of hCG. We found that N-(3-dimethyl aminopropyl)-N'-ethylcarbodiimide hydrochloride (EDC) was the best cross-linking reagent to link anti hCG α antibody to superparamagnetic particle (SPIO-anti hCG α antibody immunomagnetic ...

Incarcerated parents attempting to reunify with their children in foster care can find it difficult to complete the activities on their court-ordered case plans, such as drug treatment services and visitation with children. Although much has been written regarding the obstacles that are likely to interfere with reunification for incarcerated ...

Maize (Zea mays) is one of the most common crops in Croatia that is often contaminated with mycotoxins. The enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method as a screening immunological method has become very popular in the determination of mycotoxins contamination of cereals, as it has many advantages such as a ...

The orbit may be injured directly or indirectly. Blunt and penetrating trauma occurs with equal frequency. Soft tissue swelling often obscures direct clinical evaluation of the globe, limits ocular motion, and may limit clinical assessment of vision. Plain film radiographs of the orbits and sinuses are rarely used for diagnosis ...

: Several treatments have been described for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis. The treatment outcomes are variable. Colonic irrigation and oral antibiotics for hemorrhagic radiation proctitis have been recently reported to be a novel and promising therapeutic approach. However, a comparative study of this treatment has never been investigated. : This study ...

Fusobacterium nucleatum, one of the major causative bacteria of periodontitis, is classified into five subspecies (nucleatum, polymorphum, vincentii, animalis, and fusiforme) on the basis of the several phenotypic characteristics and DNA homology. This is the first report of the draft genome sequence of F. nucleatum subsp. fusiforme ATCC 51190(T).

: Juvenile polyposis syndrome is phentoypically and genotypically heterogeneous. It is associated with an increased risk of GI cancers, and surveillance is recommended. Few data exist that detail the outcomes of surveillance in juvenile polyposis syndrome. : The aim of this study was to review clinical features, genetic mutations, and ...

We have previously shown that stromal cell-derived factor-1α (SDF-1α) is downregulated within diabetic cutaneous wounds, and that direct application of recombinant SDF-1α increases wound closure rates, neovascularization, and endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) recruitment. However, increased wound levels of exogenous SDF-1α results in elevated systemic levels of this proangiogenic chemokine that ...

Constipation and fecal incontinence affect 68% of patients with multiple sclerosis, but management is empirical. Transanal irrigation has been used successfully in patients with neurogenic bowel dysfunction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of transanal irrigation on the bowel symptoms and general health status in these ...

We deciphered the genome of Yersinia pestis strain 2501, isolated from the Junggar Basin, a newly discovered great gerbil plague focus in Xinjiang, China. The total length of assembly was 4,597,322 bp, and 4,265 coding sequences were predicted within the genome. It is the first Y. pestis genome from this ...

BACKGROUND:: Successful bowel preparation is important for safe, efficacious, cost-effective colonoscopy procedures; however, poor preparation is common. OBJECTIVE:: We sought to determine whether there was an association between health literacy and comprehension of typical written instructions on how to prepare for a colonoscopy to enable more targeted interventions in this ...

Differences in local blood flow patterns along the endothelium may trigger abnormal vascular responses which can have profound pathophysiological consequences. While endothelial cells exposed to laminar blood flow (high shear stress) are protected from atherosclerosis formation, turbulent or disturbed blood flow, which occurs at bends and bifurcations of blood vessels, ...

Citrobacter sp. strain A1, isolated from a sewage oxidation pond, is a facultative aerobe and mesophilic dye-degrading bacterium. This organism degrades azo dyes efficiently via azo reduction and desulfonation, followed by the successive biotransformation of dye intermediates under an aerobic environment. Here we report the draft genome sequence of Citrobacter ...

A rabies virus (RABV) was isolated from a dog in Anhui Province, China, in 2008. The virus was designated DRV-AH08. Its entire genome was sequenced and found to be closely related to RABV recently isolated in China and other Asian countries (homology of 87 to 98%) but distantly related to ...

RGD peptide (Arg-Gly-Asp tripeptide) binds to integrin αVβ(3) and αVβ(5), which is selectively expressed in tumor neovasculature and on the surface of some tumor cells. Some studies showed that coupling the RGD peptides to anticancer drugs yielded compounds with increased efficiency against tumors and lowered toxicity to normal tissues. The ...

Brucella abortus is a major pathogen that infects livestock and humans. A new strain of B. abortus (A13334) was isolated from the fetal gastric fluid of a dairy cow, with the aim of using it to compare genetic properties, analyze virulence factor, and survey the epidemiological relationship to other Brucella ...

The varied effects of colony-stimulating factors (CSFs) on monocytes and macrophages during inflammation and atherosclerosis and its clinical presentation prompt the question whether the differing effects of CSFs dictate macrophage function and disease progression. CSFs can give rise to heterogeneous populations of monocyte-derived macrophages that are characterized by disparate expression ...

The phenomenon of empty-nest elderly (ENE) has become a significant social issue in China. In this research on ENEs in urban Shanghai, a coastal city in China, case studies were undertaken through in-depth semistructured interviews to examine the social exclusion risks ENEs may face and the influence of neighborhood support ...

Vulnerable infants are at an increased risk for feeding intolerance due to immaturity or dysfunction (ie, congenital anomaly or obstruction) of the gastrointestinal system and/or hemodynamic instability. Symptoms of feeding intolerance include vomiting, water-loss stools, increased abdominal girth, and increased gastric residuals. It has been well documented that human milk ...

Bacillus sp. strain 916, isolated from the soil, showed strong activity against Rhizoctonia solani. Here, we present the high-quality draft genome sequence of Bacillus sp. strain 916. Its 3.9-Mb genome reveals a number of genes whose products are possibly involved in promotion of plant growth or antibiosis.

We previously showed that formation of pulmonary granulomas in mice in response to a mycobacterial glycolipid, trehalose 6,6'-dimycolate (TDM) is due to the action of TNF-α and not of IFN-γ. However, the mechanisms of formation and maintenance of pulmonary granulomas are not yet clear. The purpose of the present study ...

A diarrhea outbreak caused by porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV) has been observed in China since December 2010. We report here the complete genome sequence of PEDV strain AJ1102 isolated from a suckling piglet with acute diarrhea, which will help toward understanding the molecular and evolutionary characteristics of the epidemic ...

We aimed to disentangle the proportional contributions of upper and lower motor neuron dysfunction to motor impairment in children with spina bifida. We enrolled 42 children (mean age, 11.2 years; standard deviation, 2.8 years) with spina bifida and 36 control children (mean age, 11.4 years; standard deviation, 2.6 years). Motor ...

To determine the frequency, causes, predictors, and consequences of 30-day readmission after abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will soon reduce total Medicare reimbursements for hospitals with higher-than-predicted 30-day readmission rates after vascular surgical procedures, including AAA repair. However, causes and factors leading to ...

: To determine the interrater and test-retest reliabilities and construct validity of the Premie-Neuro, a standardized neurologic assessment tool for preterm infants. : Thirty-four preterm infants (mean gestational age at birth 29 ± 3.7 weeks, mean birth weight 1343.2 ± 696.3 g) participated in the study. : A prospective repeated-measures ...

Control of vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) phenotype is essential in the development and maintenance of a healthy vasculature. Acquisition of a synthetic, proproliferative phenotype by VSMCs following vascular insult is central to neointimal formation and the development of vascular pathology. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are relatively recently discovered negative regulators of ...

Streptomyces auratus strain AGR0001 produces neophoslactomycin A, a novel analog of phoslactomycin that possesses potent activity against some phytopathogenic fungi. Here, the draft genome sequence of S. auratus strain AGR0001 is presented, which would provide insight into the biosynthetic mechanism of neophoslactomycin A.

One of the major socioeconomic challenges China faces is the rapid aging of its population. China is now an aging society, even though it is still regarded as a middle-income economy. Coupled with the market-driven reform of social services and rapid erosion of family support, the provision of affordable and ...

The purpose of this article was to present a new, integrative, case-based educational approach for neonatal advanced practice nursing students in a hybirdized long-distance program at the University of Washington. The theoretical background is based on a holistic, systems-based, and case-based approach to learning. A guideline for instructors will be ...

A recently discovered wild-type strain, Clostridium beijerinckii G117, is unique in producing butanol and acetone but negligible amounts of ethanol, unlike previously identified acetone-butanol-ethanol (ABE)-generating microbes. Here we report the draft genome sequence of strain G117 (5,806,675 bp; GC content, 29.7%) and the novel findings obtained from its genome annotations.

The pediatric epileptic spectrum and seizure control in surgical patients have been defined in developed countries. However, corresponding data on school-aged children from developing countries are insufficient. We summarized epileptic surgical data from four centers in China, to compare surgical outcomes of school-aged children with intractable partial epilepsy from China ...

A Pseudomonas sp. bacterium was isolated from the midguts of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Here we present the annotated Pseudomonas sp. draft genome sequence as a contribution to the efforts of characterization of the mosquito gut microbiome.

The roles of Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and their myeloid differentiation response gene 88 (MyD88)-dependent and MyD88-independent signaling cascade particularly with regard to the pathogenesis and regulation of immune responses in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies are unclear. We investigated these pathways in muscle biopsies from 5 cases each of polymyositis, inclusion body ...

Cover illustration. The shortfin mako Isurus oxyrinchus is perhaps the fastest swimming shark. The modified scales on the lateral flank of the shark are highly flexible and are believed to erect during rapid swimming. Erection of the flank scales and resulting drag reduction is hypothesized to be passively driven by ...

Expanding access is often seen as a panacea for health problems. Although access is a necessary step, it is also important that policy analysts do not fail to consider postaccess issues. Increased access to health is often assumed to be synonymous with improved health outcomes; however, just because access exists ...