Search

Evidence on whether patients with psoriasis have a higher risk for staphylococcal colonization than healthy controls remains controversial. To synthesize the current literature, we performed a systematic review on the prevalence and relative risk ( RR) of Staphylococcus aureus colonization in patients with psoriasis. We modified the QUADAS-2 instrument to assess the reporting quality of individual studies and applied random-effects models in meta-analysis. Overall we identified 21 eligible studies, of which 15 enrolled one or more comparison groups. The pooled prevalence of staphylococcal colonization in patients with psoriasis was 35·3% [95% confidence interval ( CI) 25·0-45·6] on lesional skin and 39·2% (95% CI 33·7-44·8) in the nares. Patients with psoriasis were 4·5 times more likely to be colonized by S. aureus than healthy controls were on the skin ( RR 5·54, 95% CI 3·21-9·57) and 60% more in the nares ( RR 1·60, 95% CI 1·11-2·32). Cutaneous and nasal colonization by meticillin-resistant S. aureus also appeared higher in patients with psoriasis (pooled prevalence 8·6%) than in healthy controls (2·6%), yet the difference was not statistically significant ( P = 0·74). In contrast, despite of a similar risk for nasal staphylococcal colonization ( RR 0·67, 95% CI 0·38-1·18), patients with psoriasis were less likely to carry S. aureus on lesional skin than atopic patients ( RR 0·64, 95% CI 0·40-1·02). In summarizing the current literature, we found that patients with psoriasis were at an increased risk for staphylococcal colonization compared with healthy individuals. Prospective studies on how bacterial loads correlate with disease activity can guide the clinical management of bacterial colonization while preventing the emergence of drug-resistant strains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) has become a central tool for label-free characterization of biomolecular interactions. Based on monitoring of amplitude characteristics, conventional SPR sensors have been extensively explored, commercialized and applied for studies of many important interactions (antigen-antibody, protein-ligand etc), but this technology still lacks of sensitivity for the detection of relatively small and low copy number compounds. Phase-sensitive SPR has recently emerged as an upgrade of this technology to resolve the sensitivity issue. Profiting from a sharp phase jump under SPR and ultra-sensitive tools of its control, this technology offers up to 100-time improvement of the detection limit, giving access to the detection of trace amounts of small molecular weight analytes (drugs etc). This paper intends to provide a tutorial on basic concepts of phase detection in SPR sensing, compare the performance of phase- and amplitude-sensitive sensors, review recent progress in the development and applications of phase-sensitive SPR sensors, and outline future prospects and trends of this technology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy intervention for patients who experienced pain during orthodontic treatment. The baseline characteristics were assessed via questionnaires and oral examinations. Four hundred and fifty eligible individuals were recruited and randomized by computer-generated block randomization into three groups: cognitive behavioral therapy intervention (n = 150), ibuprofen intervention (n = 150), and no intervention (control; n = 150). Primary outcomes were the change from baseline in pain intensity measured with 100-mm Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores at 1, 2, 3, 7, 14, and 30 days after initial archwire placement. Outcomes assessment was blinded and followed the intention-to-treat principle. One hundred forty-three (95.30%), 145 (96.70%), and 141 (94.00%) individuals in the cognitive behavioral therapy, the ibuprofen, and the control groups, respectively, completed the one-month follow-up evaluations. Those in the cognitive behavioral therapy group showed a greater decrease in mean VAS scores than did those in the control group over the previous five time-points (p < 0.001). Cognitive behavioral therapy was shown to be effective in pain control during the initial stage of orthodontic treatment. The study registration number was ChiCTR-TRC-00000556. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An 8-week feeding trial was conducted to determine lysine requirement of juvenile yellow catfish ( Pelteobagrus fulvidraco) by feeding formulated diets containing crystalline l-lysine. Six isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets (405 g kg−1 protein, 18 kJ g−1 gloss energy) containing fish meal together with soybean protein concentrate as protein sources and fish oil together with soybean oil as lipid sources were formulated. Crystalline l-lysine was added into the six diets to acquire lysine concentrations of 17.3, 21.8, 26.0, 31.3, 35.5 and 41.9 g kg−1 dry diets, respectively. Mixture of crystalline amino acid was supplemented to simulate the amino acid profile in muscle of yellow catfish. The results indicated that final body weight (FBW), weight gain (WG), specific growth rate (SGR), feed efficiency (FE) and protein efficiency (PE) increased with the increase in dietary lysine level from 17.3 to 31.3 g kg−1 of diet and then decreased as the dietary lysine levels further increased. No significant difference in survival rate was found among all the dietary treatments. One-slope, quadratic broken-line analysis on the basis of SGR showed that the dietary l-lysine requirement of juvenile yellow catfish was 33.1 g kg−1 of dry diet (83.2 g kg−1 of dietary protein). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims To update our previous computerized epidemiological data according to the new taxonomy, we re-evaluated and re-analyzed the data using the current definitions of lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) which were approved and published by the ICS in 2002 and 2010 according to patient perception. Further, we divided overactive bladder (OAB) symptoms into OAB dry and OAB wet to assess their prevalence percentages by using the current definitions. Methods OAB syndrome in our computerized database was re-defined as having the following storage symptoms present, that is, frequency, urgency, nocturia, urgency incontinence, or stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The prevalence of OAB syndrome was determined with a different taxonomy for those five storage symptoms either singly or in combination. OAB symptoms which were probably associated with mixed incontinence were either ignored or excluded. Results The prevalence of OAB syndrome varied from 34.76% to 28.33% to 20.95% using different classifications of the above five storage symptoms. The prevalence of OAB wet symptoms increased with advancing age and this finding was consistent with three different definitions. Conclusions The prevalence of OAB using the current definition is slightly higher than the result found in our previous published data using a defective classification system of OAB symptoms. The effects of mixed symptoms and probable misclassification cannot be overlooked because many women with OAB (with or without urgency incontinence) might also have SUI. Neurourol. Urodynam. 31:56-59, 2012. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Impetigo herpetiformis (IH) is a rare skin disorder that occurs during pregnancy. It was previously associated with high maternal and fetal mortality and morbidity, but now has a better prognosis. Case Report: We report a case of a pregnant woman with IH who presented with generalized erythematous pustular eruptions in the 32nd week of gestation. The IH progressed rapidly, and gestational hypertension was observed in the 36th week. The lesions did not subside, despite treatment with corticosteroids and phototherapy. She delivered a healthy male baby via cesarean section in the 37th week. One month after her delivery, her skin returned to normal, except for residual pigmentation, with complete recovery 3 months postpartum. Conclusion: An experienced medical team comprising obstetricians, dermatologists, perinatologists and neonatologists is critical to aggressively treat this life-threatening specific dermatosis of pregnancy and to prevent ensuing complications, such as fluid and electrolyte imbalance, secondary infection and placental insufficiency. Copyright © 2011 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a major natural reservoir of influenza virus and an important food source, the duck is of great biological interest, e.g. in the area of host-pathogen interactions. Recently, preliminary genetic and cytogenetic maps of the duck have become available, providing for the first time a glimpse at a comparative map between the duck and chicken. These genetic tools have been used to detect QTLs related to duck growth, carcass and meat quality traits. However, molecular genetic research in the duck is only in its infancy. In the future we can expect the development of new duck resources, including a high-density genetic map, detailed comparative maps with the chicken and other vertebrates - and given the pace of genomics, possibly a genome sequence. These new resources will be used to evaluate the genetic diversity of global duck breeds, to define genetic markers to increase the quantity and quality of egg and meat products, and to aid in the battle against infectious diseases, such as avian influenza. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Using multivariate analyses, individual risk of clinically definite multiple sclerosis (CDMS) after monosymptomatic optic neuritis (MON) was quantified in a prospective study with clinical MON onset during 1990–>95 in Stockholm, Sweden. During a mean follow-up time of 3.8 years, the presence of MS-like brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) lesions and oligoclonal immunoglobulin (Ig) G bands in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) were strong prognostic markers of CDMS, with relative hazard ratios of 4.68 {95% confidence interval (CI) 2.21–9.91} and 5.39 (95% CI 1.56_ndash;18.61), respectively. Age and season of clinical onset were also significant predictors, with relative hazard ratios of 1.76 (95% CI 1.02–3.04) and 2.21 (95% CI 1.13–3.98), respectively. Based on the above two strong predictors, individual probability of CDMS development after MON was calculated in a three-quarter sample drawn from a cohort, with completion of followup at three years. The highest probability, 0.66 (95% CI 0.48–0.80), was obtained for individuals presenting with three or more brain MRI lesions and oligoclonal bands in the CSF, and the lowest, 0.09 (95% CI 0.02–0.32), for those not presenting with these traits. Medium values, 0.29 (95% CI 0.13–0.53) and 0.32 (95% CI 0.07–0.73), were obtained for individuals discordant for the presence of brain MRI lesions and oligoclonal bands in the CSF. These predictions were validated in an external one-quarter sample. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-wavelength laser source monolithically integrated with an isolator and a Y-junction coupler is fabricated by using a new quantum-well intermixing technique. The technique employs a buried Ge layer between the sample surface and the spin-on silica film to control the bandgap tuning in selective areas across a wafer. The integrated isolator can avoid the crosstalk between the two channels of the device. Two distinct lasing wavelengths of 950 and 969 nm are coupled into one single output port through the transparent Y-junction coupler. The two channels have similar threshold current and slope efficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Presents a study which investigated the tunneling magnetoresistance effect (TMR) of iron-lead-oxygen (Fe-Pb-O) granular films from different annealing time. Experimental details; Results of the study.

Investigates the magneto-transport properties of the granular solids with various film thickness. Experiments on the granular films; Findings and analysis of results; Conclusions.

Ultrafine Gd particles in a Cu metallic matrix have been obtained by post-annealing of as-sputtered metastable Gd/sub x/Cu/sub 1-x/ alloys at temperatures higher than 250/spl deg/C. The results of resistivity measurements show that the resistivities of as-sputtered metastable Gd/sub 0.2/Cu/sub 0.8/ and Gd/sub 0.3/Cu/sub 0.7/ alloys exhibit a resistivity minimum at low temperatures, an indication of the Kondo effect. In addition the temperature of the resistivity minimum rises with the increasing Gd content. Conversely, the resistivity of films after formation of Gd granules levels off at low temperatures. The magnetic results indicate that the metastable GdCu alloys are essentially a spin-glass at low temperature with the transition temperatures at around 3.5/spl sim/5 K. However, magnetization data at 80 K shows that the as-sputtered samples contain some small Gd ferromagnetic clusters in the paramagnetic matrix. The magnetic particles of granular films begin to be thermally blocked at T/sub B/ and become magnetically ordered below T/sub B/. Due to larger grain sizes, T/sub B/ is much higher for x=0.3 than for 0.2. The variation of transport and magnetic properties for samples with different annealing processes are described in detail. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

An abstract of the article "Atrial volume tracking (AVT): a novel echocardiographic technique to evaluate fetal atrial volume and function" by B. W. Zhao and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Z-scores analysis of mitral-tricuspid valve distance in normal fetuses with fetal echocardiography" by B.W. Zaho and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Concordance of fetal aortic arch diameter measured by intelligent spatiotemporal image correlation (iSTIC) and 2-dimensional fetal echocardiography (2DFE)" by B. W. Zhao and colleagues is presented.

An abstract of the article "Fetal heart navigator (FHN): a novel method to get key diagnostic fetal echocardiographic views and initial application in diagnosis of fetal conotruncal heart defects" by B.W. Zhao and others, is presented.