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The article presents a report on West Nile virus (WNV) activity in the U.S. as reported to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2009. 720 cases of WNV disease were reported from a total of 38 states and the District of Columbia. It lists the five states with the highest incidence of WNV neuroinvasive disease including Mississippi and South Dakota. A figure that shows the annual incidence of cases of WNV neuroinvasive disease in the country from 1999 to 2009 is presented.

The article summarizes provisional West Nile virus (WNV) surveillance data for 2006 reported to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. In 2006, WNV transmission to humans or animals expanded into 52 counties that had not previously reported transmission. There were 1,491 cases of WNV neuroinvasive disease reported in the U.S. during the period. A total of 4,106 dead WNV-infected birds were reported from 701 counties in 43 states during 2006.

Clinical examination of cutaneous sensory response for touch-pressure and vibratory threshold perception is mostly conducted as part of neuropathy screening in diabetic clinics. Yet, declines in tactile thresholds in the skin have been reported as a feature of aging and may be important for understanding functional status more generally. The Sources of Independence in the Elderly study includes 361 Medicare beneficiaries in northern Manhattan, New York City, at an early point in the disablement process. Each participant was assessed for touch-pressure and vibration perception in the hands and feet. People with diabetes or dementia were excluded. Self-reports of difficulty in the ability to grasp objects and in balance were examined in light of hand and foot cutaneous sensitivity, respectively, adjusting for known correlates of functional limitation. Cutaneous sensitivity in the hand and foot was independently associated with reports of functional limitation in models that adjusted for performance tests of hand use and balance as well as other correlates. In the presence of declining hand dexterity or standing balance, better hand or foot sensitivity was associated with lower likelihood of functional limitation. Deficits in the ability to perceive sensory stimulation in the hands and feet are an independent source of functional limitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents an update on the detection, transmission and control of the West Nile virus (WNV) in the U.S. as of December 2005. The number of cases of WNV disease in humans reportedly increased in the U.S. Statistical data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention regarding WNV human infection are presented. Surveillance data on WNV-infected animals are provided.

The purpose of this study was to determine the average time school children spend on computers and electronic games, the positions they assume, and any associated discomfort related to their use. A twenty three-point questionnaire was distributed to 476 children in first to eighth grade from three parochial schools in one of the New York City boroughs. The findings of this study suggest that children use the computer and electronic games differently than adults and that more boys than girls engage in electronic game playing. Results clearly indicated that children are experiencing discomfort from the use of computers or electronic games, and that the discomfort is largely concentrated in the neck region. Occupational therapy could be instrumental in terms of educating the children, their parents/guardians, and their teachers on proper body mechanics, applications of ergonomically suited workstations, and the use of rest/stretch breaks while engaged in computing and electronic game playing. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We describe the results of a comparison of reference standards between the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST-USA) and Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB-Germany) at nominal wavelengths of 1300 nm and 1550 nm using an optical-fiber cable. Both laboratories used thermal detectors as reference standards. A novel temperature-controlled, optical-trap detector was used as a transfer standard to compare two reference standards. Measurement results showed differences of less than 1.5 x 10-3, which is within the combined uncertainty for both laboratories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For over three decades, physical abnormalities have been noted in the chronic psychiatric population. Yet, as occupational therapy conceptual models currently emphasize the application of occupation to role performance while minimizing direct focus on component deficits, therapists may be neglecting attention to the sensory motor deficits that many clients exhibit. This article provides a case study, and reports on a series of recent studies that underscore the importance of attending to hand function in the chronic psychiatric population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Examines the dynamics of soil organic carbon following deforestation and cultivation in Ethiopia. Domination of Podocarpus in natural forests; Replacement of natural forests by agroecosystem; Application of chemical fractionation and characterization methods to describe soil organic matter dynamics.

A case of an epidural spinal peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumor (pPNET) in a 13-year-old girl is presented. The tumor was disseminated at the moment of diagnosis, thus only diagnostic oligobiopsy of the epidural mass was performed. Histologically the tumor was composed of small round blue cells. The neoplastic cells expressed MIC2 and features of neural differentiation on immunohistochemical staining (neuron-specific enolase, synaptophysin and NCAM positivity). Fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis was performed for the final diagnosis and the translocation t(11;22)(q24;q12) was detected. The present case emphasizes the usefulness of FISH in differential diagnosis of tumors, especially when only routinely fixed material is available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study describes the time use of subjects on a mixed diagnosis inpatient rehabilitation unit. Twelve subjects were observed during two days: one weekday and one weekend day for 8 hours each observational day. Seven subjects had sustained a stroke (CVA) and 5 subjects had other diagnoses (non-CVA). The observers used the behavioral mapping technique to obtain an objective description of the subject's time use and the admission, discharge, and efficiency scores of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) to obtain a measure of functional activity level.During the weekday observations, the subjects who had a stroke spent more time inactive, 25.0%, as compared to the subjects who had other diagnoses, 15.0%. In addition, the subjects who had a stroke spent more time alone, 53.6%, while the other subjects spent 38.8% time alone. While both amounts of inactivity and time alone increased during the weekend observation, the pattern remained the same. All FIM measures were lower for the subjects who had a stroke as compared to subjects who had other diagnoses.It appears that those who are recovering from a stroke show a discrepancy in self-directed activity level from those who did not have a stroke, while hospitalized on the same unit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of meningioangiomatosis, resected from the parietal lobe in a 31-year-old female is presented. Macroscopically, the lesion was composed of five calcified nodules embedded within hardened elastic tissue. Histologically, cortical and subcortical calcified masses were found surrounded by a palisade of spindle and/or oval cells. In adjacent nervous tissue many pathological microvessels were observed and some were ensheathed by a perivascular proliferation of spindle cells. Moreover, gliosis with Rosenthal fibers and prominent connective tissue elements were observed. Immunohistochemical analysis based on monoclonal antibodies was performed. The spindle cells both within the palisades and the perivascular proliferations were vimentin and usually epithelial membrane antigenpositive. The possible pathogenesis of meningioangiomatosis is discussed and the role of angiogenesis within this lesion emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of a child with allergic asthma and mucocele of the paransal sinus who developed orbital hypertelorism is presented. The association between allergy and asthma and the formation of mucoceles is discussed and a possible mechanism for the development of orbital hypertelorism during adolescence is suggested. The management of mucoceles of the paranasal sinuses during craniofacial surgery is described. The need for long-term follow-up is emphasized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the New York State Department of Correctional Services study which determines the relative size of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) outbreak among prisoners in New York. According to the article, the widespread of the disease is dominant among men with17.4%, and women which has 18.8%. In addition, it is stated that female inmates showed consistency in term of frequencies due to the fact that most of them apparently are drug users coming from areas in New York wherein drug abuse are frequent. Furthermore, the study concluded that HIV infection is the leading illness among prison inmates in the region.

Argues that American national security strategy needs major overhaul, with substantial reduction in numbers of strategic and theater nuclear weapons. Reconfiguration away from heavy positional forces; Toward more flexible and deployable forces; Need for higher percentage of reserve manning; Interdependence; New spectrum of deterrence; Naval forces; Airlift forces; Sealift forces; Land-based tactical air forces; Ground forces; Marine corps; Post-Cold War military configuration.

This paper confirms that in Drepanaspis gemuendenensis the principal plates of the head-shield are rather variable, as Gross showed in his description. Clear homologies are shown to exist between drepanaspid plates and those of pteraspids. The prerostral plates of Drepanaspis seem to correspond to the hypothetical superior labial dental plates drawn by Stensiö in his reconstruction of Poraspis pompeckji; the prerostral plates of Drepanaspis were probably fixed on a palatosubnasal lamina. The growth of some plates of Drepanaspis is considered and seems to have occurred at different speeds in various specimens. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study which discussed the role of hydronephrosis or bacteriuria in urine concentration in patients with urinary schistosomiasis. Effects of the abnormalities on renal concentrating mechanisms; Response of patients to anti-schistosomal treatment; Characteristics of impaired urine concentration.

Chronic salmonella bacteremia frequently accompanies urinary-tract carriage in Egyptian patients with concurrent schistosomiasis. Sustained fever and toxicity are not characteristic of this infection. The febrile and toxic response to ivadministered, formalin-killed Salmonella typhi (Quailes strain) was measured in afebrile patients: five with chronic salmonella bacteremia and bacteriuria, one with bacteremia only, four with bacteriuria only, and seven controls. Patients with bacteremia showed tolerance for endotoxin, which was maintained up to four months after cessation of bacteremia. Two patients who had bacteriuria but no demonstrable bacteremia appeared to be less tolerant. Patients became tolerant despite the apparent absence of an initial overt febrile and toxic illness. Intermittent febrile episodes recurred during sustained bacteremia despite the presence of tolerance. It is concluded that prolonged exposure to circulating endotoxin determines a state of tolerance to endotoxin. However, endotoxemia is probably not responsible for the presence or absence of fever in patients with chronic salmonella bacteremia. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]