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This study presents the results of passive acoustic diagnostics of an atmospheric pressure linear field jet source operating inflowing helium. Variations of the electrical, optical and acoustic parameters of the source are monitored with respect to changing gas flow rate [0.5-7 liters per minute (lpm)] and applied voltage amplitude (3.5-7 kV). It was found that the jet length and coupled power were maximized when the jet flow was laminar. Flow mode transitions (buoyant, laminar and turbulent) associated with the jet Richardson number could easily be distinguished acoustically through their unique wavelet scalograms. Each scalogram can also be explained through qualitative correlation with the discharge electrical parameters. As the jet became turbulent, low frequency oscillation (c. 180 Hz) bursts were present in the time-frequency trace which were compared to an empirical relation for the Richardson number in the case of flow induced oscillations. It was found that the frequency value correlated well with the frequency of 200 Hz determined from literature. Anomalous sparking events were detected which manifested as almost constant magnitude, broadband acoustic transients in the time-frequency domain. Comparisons between the average acoustic output power and the average dissipated power from the discharge at two different flow rates (4 lpm and 2 lpm) reveal an approximately equal linear trend for a fixed microphone-discharge placement while in the laminar flow regime. Due to the increased turbulence induced noise, however, no such linear correlation could be drawn. Finally, optical emission spectra from the discharge at a point 8 mm downstream of the plume exit were taken and correlations drawn for each flow regime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A selective and sensitive method for the analysis of Miconazole and its associated impurities is developed. The separation is carried out using a Thermo Scientific Hypersil Gold C18 Column (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 1.9 µm particle size) with a mobile phase of acetonitrile–methanol–ammonium acetate (1.5 w/v) (30:32:38 v/v) at a flow rate of 2.5 mL/min and UV detection at 235 nm. The method is validated according to ICH guidelines with respect to precision, accuracy, linearity, specificity, robustness, and limits of detection and quantification. All parameters examined are found to be well within the stated guidelines. Naturally aged samples are also tested to determine sample stability. A profile of sample and impurity breakdown was presented. The analysis time was more than halved from just under 20 min (the current European Pharmacopeia Method) to under 8 min (developed method) and the method is applicable for assay and related substance determination. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In this paper we present the development and application of a real time atmospheric pressure discharge monitoring diagnostic. The software based diagnostic is designed to extract latent electrical and optical information associated with the operation of an atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge (APDBD) over long time scales. Given that little is known about long term temporal effects in such discharges, the diagnostic methodology is applied to the monitoring of an APDBD in helium and helium with both 0.1% nitrogen and 0.1% oxygen gas admixtures over periods of tens of minutes. Given the large datasets associated with the experiments, it is shown that this process is much expedited through the novel application of multivariate correlations between the electrical and optical parameters of the corresponding chemistries which, in turn, facilitates comparisons between each individual chemistry also. The results of these studies show that the electrical and optical parameters of the discharge in helium and upon the addition of gas admixtures evolve over time scales far longer than the gas residence time and have been compared to current modelling works. It is envisaged that the diagnostic together with the application of multivariate correlations will be applied to rapid system identification and prototyping in both experimental and industrial APDBD systems in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Amphotericin B lipid complex (ABLC), a lipid-based formulation of amphotericin B, is an effective treatment for fungal infections, but is associated with mild to moderate drug delivery reactions (DDRs), such as fever, rigors and chills, in some patients. Although clinical studies have indicated that premedication with hydrocortisone may reduce the incidence of DDRs, there are currently limited confirmatory data from clinical practice. The aim of the audit was to assess prospectively a hydrocortisone premedication strategy with ABLC to reduce the rate of DDRs.Methods: Over an 18-month period, all cancer patients treated with ABLC at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital were audited prospectively. Each patient received 100 mg of intravenous hydrocortisone 15-30 minutes prior to each ABLC infusion. The primary outcome was to determine the DDR rate per cycle of ABLC.Results: A total of 275 cycles of ABLC (mean dosage 930.6 mg) were administered during the course of the study period, and 16.0% were associated with DDRs. The majority of reactions occurred following the first infusion of a cycle (15.3%; subsequent infusions: 2.9%). The most common DDRs were rigor (15.3%) and fever (12.7%). There was no significant difference in the DDR rate (17.2 vs. 15.5%) or types of reactions between ABLC-naïve and previously treated patients. The dosage of ABLC administered had no effect on the DDR rate. Female gender, being neutropenic and younger age were found to be predictive of having a DDR.Conclusions: The audit demonstrates that premedication with hydrocortisone results in a low incidence of DDRs following ABLC. The main limitation of this study is the lack of a randomised control group. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Larvae of many benthic invertebrates metamorphose in response to habitat cues, which include the presence of adult conspecifics. Prior research showed that fiddler crab [Uca pugnax(Smith)] megalopae advance molting to the first crab stage in seawater in which conspecific adult crabs were maintained. In the present study, extracts of adult crabs were prepared and the specificity and protein content were characterized.U.pugnaxmegalopae were reared in the laboratory to minimize their prior exposure to potential molting cues. Then they were presented with extract solutions (in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 2000) to determine the specificity of the molting response to extracts of several crab species and the effects of the protein concentration of the extract, age of the megalopae at exposure to extract, and the duration of exposure on the molting response. Megalopae ofU.pugnaxmolted sooner in seawater containing extract from adult conspecifics than in filtered seawater without extract or in seawater containing extract from the congenerU.minax. Extract from the mud crabDyspanopeus sayiretarded molting ofU.pugnaxmegalopae. The stimulatory effect ofU.pugnaxextract on molting of megalopae was dependent on extract concentration.U.pugnaxmegalopae did not respond to extract until 6 days after molting, and only 1 day of exposure was sufficient to stimulate molting. The boiled extract was effective after being frozen (-15°C) for 2 years. The preparation of stable extract provides a uniform stimulus for multiple experiments examining the specificity of molting cues for brachyuran crustacean larvae and the onset of receptivity to cues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The blind deconvolution algorithm for 3D transmitted light brightfield (TLB) microscopy, published previously (Holmes et al. Handbook of Biological Confocal Microscopy (1995), is summarized with example images. The main emphasis of this paper is to discuss more thoroughly the importance and usefulness of this method and to provide more detailed evidence, some being quantitative, of its necessity. Samples of horseradish peroxidase (HRP)-stained pyramidal neurones were prepared and evaluated for the ability to see fine structures clearly, including the dendrites and spines. It is demonstrated that the appearance of fine spine structure, and means of identifying spine categories, is made possible by using blind deconvolution. A comparison of images of the same sample from reflected light confocal microscopy, which is the conventional light microscopic way of viewing the 3D structure of these HRP-stained samples, shows that the blind deconvolution method is far superior for clearly showing the structure with less distortion and better resolution of the spines. The main significance of this research is that it is now possible to obtain clear images of 3D structure by light microscopy of absorbing stains. This is important because the TLB microscope is probably the most widely used modality in the life-science laboratory, yet, until now, there has been no reliable means for it to provide visualization of 3D structure clearly. The main importance of the blind deconvolution approach is that it obviates the need to measure the point spread function of the optical system, so that it now becomes realistic to provide a 3D light microscopic deconvolution method that can be pervasively used by microscopists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Base decomposition of 4-(substituted phenyl)-1,2,3-selenadiazoles at room temperature resulted in 2-(substituted phenyl)-ethynylselenolate anions, which were immediately reacted with bromoacetonitrile to give a series of 2-(substituted phenyl)ethynylselanylacetonitriles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- The calendrical calculation performance of two 10-year-old children of the same intelligence level (IQ.90) but different calendrical ability, was compared with the performance of eight adult idiot-savant calculators. The calculating speeds of the two 10-year olds fell within the range of the reaction times of the adult savants. No improvement was detectable in a series of successive trials over time, either in speed or accuracy. It is concluded that the young calculators have already inferred rules about calendrical structure and that their performance cannot be accounted for by practice alone, but these savants use cognitive strategies to aid their performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SUMMARY A linear model of information processing led to many experiments on learning difficulties in the subnormal and severely subnormal. It assumes learning can result from a break in the chain of information flow at any point but overlooks compensatory mechanisms common to a developing organism. To compensate for the model's difficulties, we compared blind and deaf children with subnormal and subnormal autistic children (i.e. localized with general cognitive incapacities). Absence of a modality led to alternative encoding strategies, but in certain circumstances they also occurred in the centrally handicapped. Reasons for the similarities and differences are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the memory organization of autistic mnemonists. Verbal memory factor independent of measured verbal intelligence quotient that was operative in mnemonists; Key issues that arise from the phenomenon of the idiot-savant; Theoretical significance to psychology.

Focuses on the perception of and recognition of memory for shapes by artistically gifted children of normal intelligence and idiot-savant artists. Observation that IQ was the determining factor in matching and recognizing performance; Importance of artistic ability on copying and reproduction ability; Interpretation of study results in terms of access to an intelligence-independent system of graphic representations.

The article discusses an analysis on the logical processes of language by using four linguistic operations. The operations include seriation, cross-modal coding, immediate memory, and cue matching that were translated into visual forms and presented as tasks used by subjects to solve. Results of the study indicated that subjects who were aphasics and deaf learned the tasks, thereby establishing their competence with linguistic operations. On the other hand, speaking psychotic children failed some tasks and speechless psychotic children failed all tasks. The analysis revealed that immediate memory discriminated speaking and speechless groups in which failure in seriation characterized psychotics but not retarded.

Russian psychologists, notably A.R. Luria, have recently drawn attention to the role language plays in helping the developing child to govern his own behaviour. The recognition of meaningful similarity of verbal and other symbols depends on learning. Therefore semantic generalisation presupposes a formation of conditioned response connections which has been established prior to the experimental situation. The first experiment therefore tested whether physical similarity of two word lists, meaningfully similar words and unconnected word lists would have differential effects on rates of learning.

To estimate resource implications of implementing the National Clinical Guideline on the appropriate Prescribing of Psychotropic Medication in People with Dementia. If we match the UK reduction in the prescribing of antipsychotic medications of 48.42% upon implementation, we estimate a cost avoidance of €20m over 5 years from reduced medication costs and reduced health and social care costs related to psychotropic medication adverse events. [Extracted from the article]

A core consideration in the care of Indigenous patients at the end of life is their place of death. Dying in community can be of paramount importance to Indigenous people. This paper reports the experiences of the Top End Palliative Care Service with respect to the barriers and solutions in the return of Indigenous patients to community for end-of-life care. These barriers include not only those associated with the significant distances and remoteness in the Northern Territory but, also, spiritual and cultural factors, which often influence healthcare delivery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

142 noncuffed, nontunnelled, single lumen central venous catheters were inserted in 103 patients with haematological malignancy. Insertion related complications were minimal and no symptomatic catheter-related central venous thrombosis occurred. Nontunnelled central venous catheters are an excellent alternative to the more commonly used tunnelled devices in terms of convenience, cost-effectiveness and low incidence of side effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Indoor overheating is a potentially fatal health hazard that was identified as an issue requiring urgent action in the 2017 UK Climate Change Risk Assessment. We aimed to make research on this issue more accessible to local public health teams to encourage its inclusion in local strategic needs assessments. Study design Epidemiological health needs assessment. Methods We adapted established health needs assessment methods, focussing on the epidemiological component, drawing evidence from a non-systematic literature review that was complemented by discussion with experts. Results Indoor overheating arises from an interaction between occupants' susceptibility to heat, their behaviour and the building's location and its characteristics. Many of these factors are interrelated and, at a national level, are expected to vary over time with demographic and climate change. Understanding these factors, ways to mitigate them and a long-term view are all essential for managing overheating risk. Conclusions There is a need for services to be provided at the local level that consider the home environment and its impact on health in all seasons. A population-level approach to risk management across a local area is also useful to inform collaborative efforts to reduce future incidence of overheating and better understand how it varies with socio-economic deprivation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A letter to the editor is presented in response to the article "Inadequate knowledge," by R. Renton, which discusses the insufficient knowledge of dental profession on local anaesthetic (LA)-related nerve injuries.

A letter to the editor is presented about warfarin treatment.

The article compares the frequency of thrombophilia testing in district hospitals across the West Midlands, England, a large English region that contains some 20 hospitals serving a population of five million. Each hematology department was asked whether or not they vetted request though they were not asked to specify, although they were not asked to specify to specify who undertook the screening or what rules were in place.

The ability to accurately achieve performance capture of athlete motion during competitive play in near real-time promises to revolutionize not only broadcast sports graphics visualization and commentary, but also potentially performance analysis, sports medicine, fantasy sports and wagering. In this paper, we present a highly portable, non-intrusive approach for synthesizing human athlete motion in competitive game-play with lightweight instrumentation of both the athlete and field of play. Our data-driven puppetry technique relies on a pre-captured database of short segments of motion capture data to construct a motion graph augmented with interpolated motions and speed variations. An athlete's performed motion is synthesized by finding a related action sequence through the motion graph using a sparse set of measurements from the performance, acquired from both worn inertial and global location sensors. We demonstrate the efficacy of our approach in a challenging application scenario, with a high-performance tennis athlete wearing one or more lightweight body-worn accelerometers and a single overhead camera providing the athlete's global position and orientation data. However, the approach is flexible in both the number and variety of input sensor data used. The technique can also be adopted for searching a motion graph efficiently in linear time in alternative applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Healthcare-associated infections ( HCAI) affect 5-10% of acute hospital admissions. Environmental decontamination is an important component of all strategies to prevent HCAI as many bacterial causes survive and persist in the environment, which serve as ongoing reservoirs of infection. Current approaches such as cleaning with detergents and the use of chemical disinfectant are suboptimal. We assessed the efficacy of helium and helium-air plasma in killing Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium difficile on a glass surface and studied the impact on bacterial cells using atomic force microscopy ( AFM). Both plasma types exhibited bactericidal effects on Staph. aureus (log3·6 - >log7), with increased activity against methicillin-resistant strains, but had a negligible effect on Cl. difficile spores (<1log). AFM demonstrated cell surface disruption. The addition of air increased the microbicidal activity of the plasma and decreased the exposure time required for an equivalent log reduction. Further evaluation of cold plasma systems is warranted with, for example, different bacteria and on surfaces more reminiscent of the health care environment as this approach has potential as an effective decontaminant. Significance and Impact of the Study Many bacterial causes of healthcare infection can survive in the inanimate environment for lengthy periods and be transmitted to patients. Furthermore, current methods of environmental decontamination such as detergents, chemical disinfectants or gaseous fumigation are suboptimal for a variety of reasons. We assessed the efficacy of helium and helium-air plasma as a decontaminant and demonstrated a significant reduction in bacterial counts of Staphylococcus aureus on a glass surface. Atomic force microscopy morphologically confirmed the impact on bacterial cells. This approach warrants further study as an alternative to current options for hospital hygiene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Accessible summary [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Maternal body composition influences the outcome of pregnancy for both mother and baby. The use of a surrogate marker of body composition, body mass index, has limitations. Recent studies have explored the use of bioelectrical impedance analysis to directly measure body composition because it is safe and practical during pregnancy. Data on the repeatability of multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis during pregnancy are limited. The objective of this study was to evaluate the repeatability of body composition parameters using advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis in a pregnant population. Methods: We used the eight-electrode multifrequency Tanita MC180 MA bioelectrical impedance analysis system (Tokyo, Japan). Double measurements (two minutes apart) of maternal body composition were performed under standardized conditions in 20 women. All measurements were performed by the same researcher. Bland-Altman plots were created for the body composition parameters to determine repeatability. Results: The mean difference (± SD) for body mass index was 0.03 (± 0.23) kg/m2, for total body fat mass 0.01 (± 0.52) kg and for total body fat-free mass -0.05 (± 0.41) kg. The coefficients for repeatability ranged from 0.8 - 2.5% for all the body composition parameters studied. Discussion: This study demonstrated that the measurement of body composition parameters using advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis is reproducible in pregnancy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A rapid High Performance Liquid Chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven Ultra Violet (UV) filters most commonly found in cosmetics and sunscreen. The object of the method development was to provide a reliable rapid method, that would simultaneously separate a combination of the UV Filters, most commonly found in cosmetics and sunscreen products, utilizing a minimum of environmentally friendly solvents. The compounds separated were: benzophenone 3 (BZ3), methylbenzildene camphor (MBC), octyl dimethyl PABA (ODP), octocrylene (OCR), octyl methoxycinnamate (OMC), butyl - methoxydibenzoylmethane (BDM) and octyl salicylate (OS). An adjusted mobile phase consisting of ethanol and 1% acetic acid, combined with a Thermo Hypersil C BDS 3 micron column resulted in a method, which allowed the analysis of the seven compounds in seven minutes. The proposed method was validated utilising the International Congress on Harmonisation (ICH) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) guidelines. All parameters examined were found to be well within the stated guidelines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Body composition is a key determinant of fetal and maternal health. The objective of this study was to develop normal values for maternal body composition in the first trimester of pregnancy using advanced bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Methods: Women were enrolled in the first trimester after a sonogram confirmed their dates and an ongoing singleton pregnancy. The study was confined to healthy Caucasian women. Height and weight were measured digitally, and BMI calculated. Body composition was analysed using advanced BIA (Tanita, MC 180). Results: Of the 1000 women studied, the mean BMI was 25.7 kg/m2 (SD 5.3) and the mean weight was 69.1 kg (SD 14.7). Of the mean weight, 22.7 kg was fat and 46.5 kg was fat-free. On average, the arm fat was 2.6 kg, leg fat 9.5 kg and trunk fat 10.6 kg. The mean, median, standard deviation, 10th and 90th centile for all body composition parameters are reported. The measurements were also analysed by age and parity. Conclusions: The establishment of these normal values will facilitate comparisons with other ethnic groups and will provide a baseline for longitudinal studies during pregnancy and following pregnancy. It will also facilitate comparisons between BIA and other measures of body composition as predictors of clinical outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of a handheld single and triple chamber atmospheric pressure coaxial dielectric barrier discharge driven by Flyback circuitry for helium and argon discharges is described. The Flyback uses external metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor power switching technology and the transformer operates in the continuous current mode to convert a continuous dc power of 10–33 W to generate a 1.2–1.6 kV 3.5 μs pulse. An argon discharge breakdown voltage of ∼768 V is measured. With a 50 kHz, pulse repetition rate and an argon flow rate of 0.5–10 argon slm (slm denotes standard liters per minute), the electrical power density deposited in the volume discharge increases linearly at a rate of 75±20% mW/cm3 per 1 slm of gas. Electrical power transfer efficiency between the secondary Flyback coil and the discharge volume increases from 0.1% to 0.65%. Neutral argon gas forced convection analysis yields a similar energy loss rate to the electrical discharge process. Optical emission spectroscopy studies of the expanding discharge plume into ambient air reveal that the air climatically controls the plume chemistry to produce an abundance of neutral argon atoms and molecular nitrogen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare and aggressive disease usually encountered in the context of primary EBV infection. In most analyzed cases, EBV has been found predominantly in T cells. We describe the novel finding of high EBV genome numbers within circulating natural killer cells in adult patients with EBV-HLH. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The issue of maternal obesity has become a major public health problem. Internationally, the diagnosis of obesity is based on body mass index (BMI) that is, weight in kg/height in m2. While epidemiological associations have been shown between different BMI categories and adverse clinical outcomes, there is also a growing realisation that BMI has significant limitations. In this review, we assess current methods to measure body fat and, in particular, their application in pregnant women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations for the management of depression in adults that are informative, easy to assimilate and facilitate clinical decision making. Method: A comprehensive literature review of over 500 articles was undertaken using electronic database search engines (e.g. MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Cochrane reviews). In addition articles, book chapters and other literature known to the authors were reviewed. The findings were then formulated into a set of recommendations that were developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who routinely deal with mood disorders. The recommendations then underwent consultative review by a broader advisory panel that included experts in the field, clinical staff and patient representatives. Results: The clinical practice recommendations for depression (Depression CPR) summarize evidence-based treatments and provide a synopsis of recommendations relating to each phase of the illness. They are designed for clinical use and have therefore been presented succinctly in an innovative and engaging manner that is clear and informative. Conclusion: These up-to-date recommendations provide an evidence-based framework that incorporates clinical wisdom and consideration of individual factors in the management of depression. Further, the novel style and practical approach should promote uptake and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations for the management of bipolar disorder in adults that are informative, easy to assimilate and facilitate clinical decision-making. Method: A comprehensive literature review of over 500 articles was undertaken using electronic database search engines (e.g. MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Cochrane reviews). In addition articles, book chapters and other literature known to the authors were reviewed. The findings were then formulated into a set of recommendations that were developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who routinely deal with mood disorders. These preliminary recommendations underwent extensive consultative review by a broader advisory panel that included experts in the field, clinical staff and patient representatives. Results: The clinical practice recommendations for bipolar disorder (bipolar CPR) summarise evidence-based treatments and provide a synopsis of recommendations relating to each phase of the illness. They are designed for clinical use and have therefore been presented succinctly in an innovative and engaging manner that is clear and informative. Conclusion: These up-to-date recommendations provide an evidence-based framework that incorporates clinical wisdom and consideration of individual factors in the management of bipolar disorder. Further, the novel style and practical approach should promote their uptake and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations for the management of depression in adults that are informative, easy to assimilate and facilitate clinical decision making. Method: A comprehensive literature review of over 500 articles was undertaken using electronic database search engines (e.g. MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Cochrane reviews). In addition articles, book chapters and other literature known to the authors were reviewed. The findings were then formulated into a set of recommendations that were developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who routinely deal with mood disorders. The recommendations then underwent consultative review by a broader advisory panel that included experts in the field, clinical staff and patient representatives. Results: The clinical practice recommendations for depression (Depression CPR) summarize evidence-based treatments and provide a synopsis of recommendations relating to each phase of the illness. They are designed for clinical use and have therefore been presented succinctly in an innovative and engaging manner that is clear and informative. Conclusion: These up-to-date recommendations provide an evidence-based framework that incorporates clinical wisdom and consideration of individual factors in the management of depression. Further, the novel style and practical approach should promote uptake and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To provide clinically relevant evidence-based recommendations for the management of bipolar disorder in adults that are informative, easy to assimilate and facilitate clinical decision-making. Method: A comprehensive literature review of over 500 articles was undertaken using electronic database search engines (e.g. MEDLINE, PsychINFO and Cochrane reviews). In addition articles, book chapters and other literature known to the authors were reviewed. The findings were then formulated into a set of recommendations that were developed by a multidisciplinary team of clinicians who routinely deal with mood disorders. These preliminary recommendations underwent extensive consultative review by a broader advisory panel that included experts in the field, clinical staff and patient representatives. Results: The clinical practice recommendations for bipolar disorder (bipolar CPR) summarise evidence-based treatments and provide a synopsis of recommendations relating to each phase of the illness. They are designed for clinical use and have therefore been presented succinctly in an innovative and engaging manner that is clear and informative. Conclusion: These up-to-date recommendations provide an evidence-based framework that incorporates clinical wisdom and consideration of individual factors in the management of bipolar disorder. Further, the novel style and practical approach should promote their uptake and implementation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Basonuclin is a zinc finger protein present in the basal cell layer of the epidermis and in hair follicles. Human basal epidermal cells are often heterogeneous with respect to a nuclear or cytoplasmic location of basonuclin and the protein may be concentrated in either compartment. In mouse and rat epidermis, although clusters of basonuclin may be seen in some basal cell nuclei, the protein is mainly concentrated in the cytoplasm. When epidermis whose basal cells contain predominantly cytoplasmic basonuclin is disaggregated and the cells are cultivated in the presence of supporting 3T3 cells, the basonuclin of the growing keratinocyte colonies is strongly concentrated in the cell nuclei. Transfer of the cells to culture medium without supporting 3T3 cells results in a predominantly cytoplasmic concentration of the basonuclin. This translocation is reversible, since addition of supporting 3T3 cells restores most basonuclin to the nucleus. The nuclear location is associated with more rapid cell growth. We conclude that different states of the keratinocyte require greater or less activity of basonuclin, and the subcellular location of the protein is probably related to the magnitude of its action on the cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of body mass index (BMI) for the diagnosis of obesity has limitations, especially when comparing ethnic groups with different body proportions. The aim of this prospective study was to compare maternal body composition in early pregnancy between Caucasian Irish and Indian women. A total of 81 Indian women and 81 Irish Caucasian women were matched for age, parity and BMI. Maternal weight and height were measured, and body composition analysed using bioelectrical impedance. The Irish women were taller and weighed more than the Indian women ( p < 0.001). At any given BMI, the Indian women had a higher total body fat percentage, visceral fat level and high fat percentage than the Irish women ( p == 0.024, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively). Our findings suggest that lower BMI cut-offs should be used for screening for gestational diabetes mellitus in Indian women attending our antenatal services. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This retrospective cross-sectional study examined if the white cell count (WCC) is increased in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and if so, is it due to PCOS or to the associated obesity? Body mass index (BMI) was calculated and body composition was measured using bioelectrical impedance analysis. Of the 113 women studied, 36 had PCOS and 77 did not. The mean WCC was higher in the PCOS group compared with the non-PCOS group (8.9 ×× 109/l vs 7.4 ×× 109/l p == 0.002). This increase was due to a higher neutrophil count (5.6 ×× 109/l vs 4.3 ×× 109/l; p == 0.003). There was a leucocytosis (WCC >11 ×× 109/l) present in 19%% of the PCOS group compared with 1%% in the non-PCOS group ( p < 0.001). The neutrophil count was abnormally high (>7.7 ×× 109/l) in 14%% of the PCOS group compared with 4%% in the non-PCOS group ( p < 0.001). On regression analysis, however, the only independent variable which explained both the increased WCC and the increased neutrophil count was PCOS. We found that PCOS is associated with an increased WCC due to increased neutrophils, which supports the evidence that PCOS is associated with low-grade inflammation. The increase appears to be due to the underlying PCOS, and not to the increased adiposity associated with PCOS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]