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Hypogeous sequestrate (truffle-like) fungi rely primarily on consumption by mammals for dispersal. Most truffle-like fungi are ectomycorrhizal, making mammalian dispersers essential to the maintenance of plant-fungal relationships, soil fungal diversity and ecosystem functioning. Australia has the highest current global rate of mammalian extinctions, including important fungal specialists within the family Potoroidae. Knowing the relative importance of different mammal species as dispersers helps us to understand how this loss in mammal diversity could affect plant-fungi interactions and fungal diversity. Despite detecting a sampling bias in the literature, our meta-analysis confirms that mammals with fungal specialist diets contribute disproportionally more to the potential dispersal of fungi than other mammals within Australia. Three mammal species with generalist diets also consumed fungi at comparable rates to fungal specialist species and, importantly, persist in many areas where fungal specialists are now absent. These results highlight the significance of mammals, particularly fungal specialists, for maintaining diverse ectomycorrhizal fungal communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: In the treatment of epilepsy, as in all areas of drug therapy, generic formulations are becoming more important as pressure to reduce drug costs increases. In clinical practice, the interchangeability of reference and generic preparations is often assumed. However, in individual patients with a narrow therapeutic range, switching to another formulation of an antiepileptic agent with low water solubility and nonlinear pharmacokinetics may lead to breakthrough seizures or toxicity. The purpose of this study was to examine the bioequivalence and clinical effects after switch of equal daily dosages of two commercially available sustained-release preparations of carbamazepine (CBZ). Patients and Study Design: This was a nonblinded intra-individual trial in 14 patients aged 18 to 52 years with focal epilepsy who had been receiving monotherapy with the reference preparation of sustained-release carbamazepine (mean dosage 1985 mg/day given twice daily) for at least 35 days. After a minimum of 3 further days, the reference preparation (denoted CBZ-R) was immediately replaced by an identical dosage of the generic preparation (denoted CBZ-G). Under steady-state conditions, for each preparation we determined area under the serum concentration-time curve (AUC), maximum serum concentration (C), minimum serum concentration (C) and peak-trough fluctuation (PTF) of carbamazepine and carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide. Results: One patient dropped out because of intolerable adverse effects with CBZ-G. For carbamazepine, the data for the remaining 13 patients, expressed as CBZ-G/CBZ-R, were: AUC 111.5% [90% confidence interval (CI) 105.6-117.8%]; PTF 90.9% (90% CI 73.4-112.8%); C 110.1% (90% CI 100.4-117.0%). These data indicate a higher bioavailability for CBZ-G. For carbamazepine 10,11-epoxide, about 20% higher average concentrations were measured with CBZ-G. Applying the usual inclusion rule [90% CI within the range 80 to 125% (AUC) or 70 to 143% (PTF and C) of the reference preparation], the two formulations can be considered as bioequivalent. In contrast, we observed marked adverse effects, such as dizziness, nausea, ataxia, diplopia and nystagmus, in eight of the remaining 13 patients after switching to CBZ-G. Conclusions: Proof of bioequivalence between reference and generic preparations of antiepileptic drugs does not mean that they are freely interchangeable. Generic formulations with proven bioequivalence to branded preparations can be used, for example, at the beginning of treatment or in poorly controlled patients with serum concentrations in the mid range. The results demonstrate that the usual rules for bioequivalence and the range of acceptability for preparations of carbamazepine are problematic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the halothane explosion during dental anaesthesia. Definition of halothane; Use of 1956 Mckesson; Consideration of the atmospheric induction or induction by nearby equipment.

Abstract: Epilepsy in a child or adolescent can have severe psychosocial impact on the whole family and burdens them, especially the parents. As the familial background is essential for the child's coping and the progression of the epilepsy, parental burden should be considered within a comprehensive treatment approach. This study validated the applicability of the Impact on Family Scale (IOFS), a well-established instrument that assesses the strains of families with chronically ill or disabled children, in parents of children with epilepsy. In a sample of 219 parents, the psychometric properties of the original IOFS version (33 items) and two short forms (15 and 11 items, respectively) were examined. Both short forms revealed good reliability (Cronbach's alpha, test–retest reliability), and construct validity was verified by correlations with epilepsy- and burden-related variables. However, exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses indicated superior characteristics of the short form with 11 items (IOFS-11). In conclusion, the IOFS-11 as well as the IOFS-15 proved to be practicable, reliable, and valid tools to assess the impact of childhood epilepsy on family life in research and clinical practice. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Feasibility of the educational program FAMOSES (modular service package epilepsy for families) was evaluated in a controlled pilot study. Parents of children with epilepsy from epilepsy centers in Germany were allocated to either educational group (treatment group, n=55) or waiting-list group (control group, n=48). Questionnaires included epilepsy‐specific scales (knowledge, coping, adaptation, anxiety, rules and limitations, seizure management, impact of epilepsy). Multivariate analysis of variance with repeated measurements indicated significant improvements in the treatment group compared to the control group (time×group interaction: p<0.01). Univariate analyses (ANOVA) confirmed improvements in knowledge (p<0.001), adaptation (p<0.01), epilepsy‐related anxiety (p<0.05), and seizure management (p<0.05). Surveillance as well as seizure frequency (p<0.05) of children whose parents participated in the treatment group was reduced (p<0.05). Furthermore, parents'' satisfaction with the content and interactive didactic format of the program was assessed in a survey with 852 parents over a five-year period. This survey showed an improvement over the course of time (p<0.05). Feasibility and need for the educational program were confirmed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]