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Premise of the Study: Lateral roots, responsible for water and nutrient uptake, maintain nonvertical angles throughout development. Soil phosphate is one limiting nutrient for plant growth that is known to induce changes to root system architecture, such as increased lateral root formation. This study seeks to determine whether phosphate concentration affects lateral root orientation in addition to its previously described influences on root architecture., Methods: Images of intact Arabidopsis root systems were recorded for 24 h, and lateral root tip angles were measured for wild-type and mutant pgm-1 and pin3-1 roots on a full or low phosphate medium. Setpoint angles of unstimulated root systems were determined, as were gravitropic responses of lateral roots over time., Key Results: The root system setpoint angles of wild-type and mutant pin3-1 roots showed a shift toward a more vertical orientation on low orthophosphate (Pi) medium. The gravitropic responses of both pgm-1 and pin3-1 roots on low Pi medium was elevated relative to control Pi medium. Mutations in two phosphate transporters with high levels of expression in the root showed a gravitropic response similar to wild-type roots grown on low Pi, supporting a role for Pi status in regulating lateral root gravitropism., Conclusions: Lateral root orientation and gravitropism are affected by Pi status and may provide an important additional parameter for describing root responses to low Pi. The data also support the conclusion that gravitropic setpoint angle reacts to nutrient status and is under dynamic regulation.

Background: Fibromyalgia (FMS) is a syndrome expressed by chronic widespread body pain which leads to reduced physical function and frequent use of health care services. Exercise training is commonly recommended as a treatment. This is an update of a review published in Issue 2, 2002., Objectives: The primary objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the effects of exercise training including cardiorespiratory (aerobic), muscle strengthening, and/or flexibility exercise on global well-being, selected signs and symptoms, and physical function in individuals with FMS., Search Strategy: We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, SportDiscus, PubMed, PEDro, and the Cochrane Central Register for Controlled Trials (CENTRAL, Issue 3, 2005) up to and including July 2005. We also reviewed reference lists from reviews and meta-analyses of treatment studies., Selection Criteria: Randomized trials focused on cardiorespiratory endurance, muscle strength and/or flexibility as treatment for FMS were selected., Data Collection and Analysis: Two of four reviewers independently extracted data for each study. All discrepancies were rechecked and consensus achieved by discussion. Methodological quality was assessed by two instruments: the van Tulder and the Jadad methodological quality criteria. We used the American College of Sport Medicine (ACSM) guidelines to evaluate whether interventions had provided a training stimulus that would effect changes in physical fitness. Due to significant clinical heterogeneity among the studies we were only able to meta-analyze six aerobic-only studies and two strength-only studies., Main Results: There were a total of 2276 subjects across the 34 included studies; 1264 subjects were assigned to exercise interventions. The 34 studies comprised 47 interventions that included exercise. Effects of several disparate interventions on global well-being, selected signs and symptoms, and physical function in individuals with FMS were summarized using standardized mean differences (SMD). There is moderate quality evidence that aerobic-only exercise training at recommended intensity levels has positive effects global well-being (SMD 0.44, 95% confidence interval (CI 0.13 to 0.75) and physical function (SMD 0.68, 95% CI 0.41 to 0.95) and possibly on pain (SMD 0.94, 95% CI -0.15 to 2.03) and tender points (SMD 0.26, 95% CI -0.28 to 0.79). Strength and flexibility remain under-evaluated., Authors' Conclusions: There is 'gold' level evidence (www.cochranemsk.org) that supervised aerobic exercise training has beneficial effects on physical capacity and FMS symptoms. Strength training may also have benefits on some FMS symptoms. Further studies on muscle strengthening and flexibility are needed. Research on the long-term benefit of exercise for FMS is needed.

The steady growth in EM residency programs reflects the desirability of EM as a specialty area for training. However, a profile of programs offered nationwide is not available. OBJECTIVE: To characterize emergency medicine (EM) programs nationwide according to program format, curriculum, and opportunities for subspecialty training. METHODS: In this descriptive study, U.S. emergency medicine residency curriculums were evaluated electronically using SAEM and FRIEDA residency information websites. Data collected included program format, hospital size and volume, rotation durations, curriculum and electives offered. RESULTS: The most common format (72%, n = 87) is PGY 1, 2, 3 and PGY 2, 3, 4 accounted for 18% (n = 22) and PGY 1, 2, 3, 4 for 10% (n = 12). The average length of training in the ED is 19 months (range 7-40). Average general pediatric training is 1.8 months (range 0-5). The average number of rotations outside the primary site is 4.9 (range 0-19) and elective rotation time and topics varied considerably. Opportunities for air medical training differed by program format (82% of PGY 1-3, 79% of PGY 1-4, 75% of PGY 2-4) (table 11-1). CONCLUSIONS: There is substantial variation in curriculum, in subspecialty exposure, and in opportunity for electives for residents depending on program format and location.

A female patient developed periorbital eczema and conjunctivitis prior to cataract surgery. Investigations revealed an allergic contact eczema to phenylephrine hydrochloride 10% eyedrops being used preoperatively for mydriasis.

Photopatch tests in 47 patients with chronic actinic dermatitis (CAD) showed musk ambrette to be the only significant allergen in our standard photopatch test series. The incidence of positive patch tests to a standard series of contact allergens in this group was compared with 213 men over the age of 50 years with eczema investigated in the contact clinic. Among the photosensitive patients, there was an increased incidence of reaction to thiuram-mix (CAD 10%; controls 3%), carba mix (CAD 6%; controls 1%), nickel sulphate (CAD 6%; controls 2%) and vioform (CAD 10%; controls 0.5%). A decreased incidence of reaction to potassium dichromate (CAD 0%; controls 8%) and balsam of Peru (CAD 4%; controls 10%) was recorded.

Given current clinical use of phospholipid bilayer structures (liposomes/vesicles) as nontoxic drug delivery vehicles, we have addressed the possibility of employing the phospholipids themselves as MRI contrast agents. To this end we have synthesized phosphatidylcholine with a nitroxide spin label replacing one methyl residue of the choline headgroup. This material was mixed with natural phosphatidylcholine in mole ratios from 1:50 to 1:1 and used to prepare sonicated unilamellar vesicles in saline. Expected structural features of these vesicles were verified by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Proton T1 values of saline were readily decreased to less than 0.3 s by such preparations, yielding a net relaxivity of 0.6 M-1 s-1. The approach seems to be a realistic way of firmly associating a contrast agent of minimal toxicity with ordinary liposomes/vesicles in a manner that is not subject to leakage.