Microbial systematics has always been a misunderstood scientific discipline. It is readily assumed that systematists use antiquated techniques to examine the molecular, morphological, physiological, and biochemical properties of microorganisms. It is also believed that the circumscription of novel taxa is not essential let alone a requirement and it is due to this that systematics has become a dying art. It is rarely appreciated that systematics is a discipline that is essential to all sciences and that without the use of current techniques, descriptions of novel species or higher taxa cannot be correctly published. Since Woese and colleagues first publicized the use of the small subunit ribosomal RNA as a molecular tool, phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences has become an essential step in the polyphasic approach of microbial systematics. However, this molecular technique has limitations which have become apparent, and therefore it is evident that full genome comparisons are soon going to be a requirement for the full circumscription of novel taxa. The next generation of sequencing technology has enabled more information to be incorporated into the full systematic picture and that is immense as it is only the start of the genomic era. It is hoped that high-throughput sequencing will compliment polyphasic data rather than throwing a different light on it and thus soon become an essential minimal standard for taxonomic descriptions.

Iofetamine-single photon emission computed tomography (IMP-SPECT) was performed on 2 girls (5 1/2 and 6 years of age) with histories of intractable seizures, developmental delay, and unilateral hemiparesis secondary to hemimegalencephaly. Electroencephalography (EEG) revealed frequent focal discharges in 1 patient, while a nearly continuous burst suppression pattern over the malformed hemisphere was recorded in the other. IMP-SPECT demonstrated a good correlation with neuroimaging studies. In spite of the different EEG patterns, which had been proposed to predict contrasting clinical outcomes, both IMP-SPECT scans disclosed a similar decrease in tracer uptake in the malformed hemisphere. These results are consistent with the pattern of decreased tracer uptake found in other interictal studies of focal seizures without cerebral malformations. In view of recent recommendations for hemispherectomy in these patients, we suggest that the IMP-SPECT scan be used to compliment EEG as a method to define the extent of abnormality which may be more relevant to long-term prognosis than EEG alone.

Fear conditioning in the rat typically involves pairing a conditioned stimulus (tone) with an aversive unconditioned stimulus (foot shock) which elicits a freeze response. Although the circuitry that underlies this form of learning is well defined, potential synaptic changes associated with this form of learning have not been fully investigated. This experiment examined synaptic structural plasticity in the lateral amygdala which is critical for the acquisition of the conditioned fear response. Adult male rats were randomly allocated to either a paired, unpaired or tone only condition. One day after the initial fear conditioning session and 1 h after a probe trial confirmation of a conditioned fear response, the rats were perfused and the relevant tissue was embedded for electron microscopic analysis. Synaptic changes were quantified in the lateral amygdala using a stereological approach. The results showed a significant increase in the number of synapses in the conditioned animals compared to controls. This finding suggests that an increase in synaptic compliment in the amygdala may underlie the acquisition of the conditioned fear response.

The main premise of the Nursing Minimum Data Set (NMDS) is that nursing data should be included in the hospital discharge abstract. Yet to date, little empirical evidence has been published to measure the efficacy or usefulness of these nursing data elements. We report the results of a comparison between a daily collection of nursing assessments using nursing diagnoses (NDX) to the Diagnostic Related Group (DRG) and the All Payer Refined DRG (APR-DRG) in their ability to predict three common outcome variables: hospital days, ICU day, and total charges. A secondary data analysis was performed from a large existing data set of four years patient data from a Midwest University hospital.

RESULTS

NDX is significantly associated with hospital length of stay, ICU length of stay, and total charges. NDX also improves explanatory power when added to models with DRG or APR-DRG. This suggests that nursing data compliments existing data and is not redundant with the DRG or APR-DRG. The findings also suggest that NDX explains a different portion of the variance of the three outcome variables in this series. The results of this study support the argument that nursing data should be included in the hospital discharge abstract.

The research value of the Motion Analysis System, within its scope of limitations, is large and may allow the podiatrist to lend scientific data to support many areas that have been previously held to be of a theoretic or anecdotal basis. The whole concept of rearfoot control with orthoses is perhaps the most important of these. Podiatrists have been aware of the role of orthoses for years, but now there is the means to demonstrate these findings to other medical professions. The ability to compare a number of clinical variables is another truly useful feature. The Motion Analysis System and other similar equipment are not designed to replace or make obsolete the biomechanical examination and "trained human eye;" rather, they act to compliment these skills and to help bring the realm of podiatric biomechanics and orthotic therapy into the scientific arena.

Diagnosis and monitoring of critical diseases such as acute myocardial infarction (AMI) require a quantitative analysis of biological molecules. A high-throughput identification of these biological molecules can be generated by using micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) structures like simple cantilever beams, which respond to the intermolecular forces resulting from binding these molecules. Biochemical markers like troponin C are considered the primary markers for myocardial injury and have generated considerable interest. A 26-residue lytic membrane protein of bee venom melittin (ME) is chosen to interact with rabbit skeletal muscle troponin C (TnC) on the surface of the cantilever beams. An optical beam deflection method is employed to identify the enzymatic reaction on the surface of the cantilever due to these proteins. Identification of these proteins is also done using fluorescence spectroscopy (FS) to compliment the optical monitored deflection method. A second set of proteins like horse radish peroxide (HRP) and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are applied to atomic force microscopy (AFM) cantilever beams to study their behavior under the enzymatic reactions of proteins. Identification of these proteins is done using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). An analytical model of the cantilever beam is developed, and its mode shapes are studied by employing orthogonal polynomials in the classic Rayleigh-Ritz method. The surface stress caused by the enzymatic reaction of the proteins that leads to pure bending on the top surface of the cantilever is evaluated. The information provided by the experimental and analytical modeling reported in this work will be useful in the development of a portable biosensor for the detection of AMI.

Serial ultrasound examination of four mature female sevengill sharks (Notorynchus cepedianus) was carried out over 18 months. Monitoring the reproductive cycle and development of follicles and fetuses in sharks in a noninvasive manner using this technique has not been reported previously. Sharks were caught out of the "Oceanarium" tank by divers using a specially made catch-out bag, and brought to a holding area for examination. A behavior scoring system was used to monitor the impact of regular handling on the well-being of the animals. Ultrasound showed the growth and regression of follicles in sevengill ovaries, and allowed an approximation of the reproductive stage of these sharks. Monitoring behavior at five time points during the procedure showed that regular handling of sharks for clinical studies could be done with minimal impact on animal welfare. The ability to follow reproductive events in elasmobranches using ultrasonography is an important step in the application of assisted reproductive technology in these species. Assisted reproductive technology, such as monitoring female reproductive cycles and artificial insemination, could potentially be used to maintain genetic diversity and compliment aquaria-based breeding programs for endangered species such as the gray nurse shark (Carcharias taurus). Zoo Biol 26:383-395, 2007. (c) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

By using a new international reference preparation for the plasma proteins (CRM470) prepared by IFCC, we launched a project to determine reference intervals for 13 plasma proteins (immunoglobulins, compliment components, transferrin, alpha 1antitrypsin, alpha 1acid glycoprotein, haptoglobin, alpha 2macroglobulin, ceruloplasmin, albumin, transthyretin) in accordance with the guideline proposed by NCCLS. As reference individuals, 999 subjects were first selected through medical examination and a health-check questionnaire. However, there were many who had "abnormal" values in some of the 25 screening tests results measured simultaneously (serum enzymes, lipids, blood counts, etc.). Therefore, we adopted a criterion that those individuals who had "abnormal" values (beyond 99% confidence intervals) in the 25 tests would be excluded. The exclusion resulted in appreciable narrowing of the distributions in all 13 plasma proteins. This implied that "apparent" normality of major screening tests results may be used as a criterion to select truly relevant reference individuals. A parametric approach using a modified Box-Cox power transformation formula and the maximal likelihood estimation led to almost perfect normalization of the reference distributions on all the items tested. Since the nonparametric method proposed by the NCCLS guideline gave less reproducible results in our simulation study, the parametric method appears to be a method of choice for the calculation.

A trend to amputate below knee (BK) began in the late 1960's when the disadvantages of above knee (AK) amputation were recognised. In this study, the outcome of 189 consecutive patients who had major lower extremity amputations between 1978-1982 was compared to earlier reports from the same institution. Their cumulative survival of 52% at three years, was similar to the cumulative survival of 116 amputees whose surgery was done in 1966-1971. The risk of losing the second limb, almost 10% per year, was also similar to the earlier experience of 1966-1971. In 1964 one BK amputation was performed for every six above the knee. By 1980 this ratio had reversed to three BK for each AK amputation. When a ratio of BK:AK amputation greater than 2:1 was achieved in our patient population, using clinical criteria as the sole guide to amputation levels, one in four failed. The eventual ratio of healed BK to AK amputation achieved was little better than unity. A trend to below knee amputation was not associated with improvement of long term survival after lower extremity amputation for advanced arterial disease. These results indicate a need for better care of the vascular amputee and for a test to compliment clinical selection of amputation levels.

The University of North Carolina Mobile Student Health Action Coalition (UNC MSHAC) at Chapel Hill, North Carolina is a voluntary service-learning program in which interdisciplinary teams of graduate level health professional students provide monthly home visits to isolated, community-dwelling elders with complex medical and social issues. Students are mentored by UNC clinical faculty and retirees from the local community. Together, mentors and students generate action plans to improve the health and well-being of the participating elders. We report here the qualitative and quantitative results from our program evaluation demonstrating UNC MSHAC as an effective, service-learning model that compliments curricula, is satisfactory to students, and is a vehicle for academic institutions to serve elders in the local community.

BACKGROUND

The kidney is a major target organ for systemic amyloidosis that often affects the kidney including proteinura, and elevated serum creatinine (Cr). The correlation between amount of amyloid deposits and clinical parameters is not known. The aim of this study was to clarify correlation the amyloid area in all renal biopsy specimen and clinical parameters.

METHODS

Fifty-eight patients with an established diagnosis of AL amyloidosis participated in the study. All patients showed amyloid deposits in renal biopsies. We retrospectively investigated the correlation between clinical data and amyloid occupied area in whole renal biopsy specimens.

RESULTS

The area occupied by amyloid was less than 10% in 57 of the 58 patients, and was under 2% in 40. For statistical analyses, %amyloid-positive areas were transformed to common logarithmic values (Log10%amyloid). Cr showed significant correlation with Log10%amyloid and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) showed the significant negative correlation. Patient age, cleatinine clearance (Ccr), blood urea nitorogen, and urinary protein was not significantly correlated with Log10%amyloid. The correlation with other clinical factors such as sex, and serum concentrations of total protein, albumin, immunoglobulins, compliments was evaluated. None of these factors significantly correlated with Log10%amyloid. According to sex- and age- adjusted multiple linear regression analysis, Log10%amyloid had significant positive association with Cr and significant negative association with eGFR.

CONCLUSIONS

There is significant association between amyloid-positive area in renal tissue and renal function, especially Cr and eGFR. The level of Cr and eGFR may be a marker of amount of amyloid in renal tissue.

Recent work in coded aperture imaging has shown that the uniformly redundant array (URA) can image distant planar radioactive sources with no artifacts. This paper investigates the performance of two URA apertures when used in a close-up tomographic imaging system. It is shown that a URA based on m sequences is superior to one based on quadratic residues. The m-sequence array not only produces less noticeable defocus artifacts in tomographic imaging but is also more resilient to some described detrimental effects of close-up imaging. It is shown that, in spite of these close-up effects, the URA system retains tomographic depth resolution even as the source is moved close to the detector. The URAs based on m sequences provide better images than those obtained using random arrays. This compliments previous studies that have shown random arrays to have better tomographical properties than Fresnel zone plates and nonredundant arrays.

This study investigates the effects of acute stress on positive and negative relationship behaviors, specifically assurances and attention to alternatives. A sample of 129 college students were randomly assigned to either a high or low stress condition, then were led to believe they had the opportunity to interact with attractive potential relationship partners and list compliments about their current partner. Results indicated that those in the high stress condition gave their partner fewer assurances and paid more attention to alternatives. These results suggest that when individuals experience acute stress, they may engage in fewer positive relationship behaviors and more behaviors that are potentially harmful to their relationship.

So far blushing has been examined in the context of a negative rather than a positive reinforcement where visual displays of a blush were based on subjective measures. The current study used infrared imaging to measure thermal patterns of the face while with the use of a video camera quantified on the visible spectrum alterations in skin color related to a compliment. To elicit a blush a three-phase dialog was adopted ending or starting with a compliment on a female sample (N = 22). When the dialog ended with a compliment results showed a linear increase in temperature for the cheek, and forehead whereas for the peri-orbital region a linear decrease was observed. The compliment phase marked the highest temperature on the chin independent of whether or not the experiment started with a compliment contrary to other facial regions, which did not show a significant change when the experiment started with a compliment. Analyses on the visible spectrum showed that skin pigmentation was getting deep red in the compliment condition compared to the serious and social dialog conditions for both the forehead and the cheeks. No significant association was observed between temperature values and erythrocyte displays on the forehead and cheek. Heat is the physiological product of an arousing social scenario, however, preconceived notions about blushing propensity seem to drive erythrocyte displays and not necessarily conscious awareness of somatic sensations.

BACKGROUND

In 2011/12, 8.9% of the UK population reported use of recreational drugs. Problems related to drug use is a major financial burden to society and a common reason for attendance to hospital.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to establish current trends in recreational drug use amongst individuals attending gay-friendly nightclubs in South London.

METHODS

Contents of drug amnesty bins located at two night clubs were documented and categorized into powders, herbal products, liquids, tablets and capsules. These were then sent to a Home Office licensed laboratory for identification through a pre-existing database of almost 25 000 substances. If required, further qualitative analysis was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 544 samples were obtained. Of them, 240 (44.1%) were liquids, 220 (40.4%) powders, 42 (7.7%) herbal and 41 (7.5%) tablets or capsules. Gamma-butyrolactone (GBL) was the most common liquid drug (n = 160, 66.7%) followed by poppers (n = 72, 30.0%). Powders provided the widest range of drugs with mephedrone being the most common (n = 105, 47.7%) followed by ketamine (n = 28, 12.7%), 3,4-methylenedioxy-N-methylamphetamine (MDMA) (n = 26, 11.8%), and cocaine (n = 21, 9.5%). Tablets and capsules included medicinal drugs, recreational drugs and plaster of Paris tablets that mimicked the appearance of 'ecstasy' tablets.

CONCLUSIONS

This study has provided a snapshot of the pattern of drug use in the gay community which compliments findings of the self-reported surveys and other studies from the same population. The information obtained will be helpful in guiding in designing harm reduction interventions in this community and for monitoring the impact of changes in legislation.

A multiple baseline design across participants was used to examine the effects of a portable video modeling intervention delivered in the natural environment on the verbal compliments and compliment gestures demonstrated by five children with autism. Participants were observed playing kickball with peers and adults. In baseline, participants demonstrated few compliment behaviors. During intervention, an iPad(®) was used to implement the video modeling treatment during the course of the athletic game. Viewing the video rapidly increased the verbal compliments participants gave to peers. Participants also demonstrated more response variation after watching the videos. Some generalization to an untrained activity occurred and compliment gestures also occurred. Results are discussed in terms of contributions to the literature.

OBJECTIVE

Evidence of potential prognostic and predictive value for nestin was investigated in well-annotated uterine cancers (UCs).

METHODS

Nestin expression and previously-published biomarkers were evaluated by immunohistochemistry (IHC) in UC tissue microarrays. Biomarkers were categorized as low vs. high, and nestin was cut at 10% positive staining. Relationship between nestin and clinicopathologic factors, biomarkers and outcome were evaluated using exact/log-rank testing or logistic/Cox modeling.

RESULTS

There were 323 eligible cases, 34% had advanced stage disease, 37% had type II disease, and 5% were carcinosarcomas. High nestin, observed in 19% of cases, was more common in advanced vs. early stage disease, type II cancers or uterine carcinosarcoma vs. type I cancers, grade 3 disease, positive lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) and tumors >6cm (p<0.05). Nestin was inversely correlated with ER, PR and TFF3, and correlated with p53 and IMP3. Women with high vs. low nestin had worse progression-free survival (PFS) and cancer-specific survival overall, and worse PFS in the subset who received no adjuvant therapy or radiation, or had early stage, type I disease or tumors with both low and high ER, PR, TFF3, PTEN, p53 or IMP3. The relationship between nestin and PFS was independent of stage, LVSI and risk categorization but not type of UC.

CONCLUSIONS

High nestin was more common in UCs with aggressive features and poor outcome. Nestin may represent a predictive biomarker for treatment selection for patients previously considered to be lower risk and a candidate for no or radiation-based adjuvant therapy, and compliment ER/PR testing.

The utility of agglomerative clustering methods for understanding dynamic systems that do not have a well-defined periodic structure has not yet been explored. We propose using this approach to examine the association between disease and weather parameters, to compliment the traditional harmonic regression models, and to determine specific meteorological conditions favoring high disease incidence. We utilized daily records on reported salmonellosis and non-specific enteritis, and four meteorological parameters (ambient temperature, dew point, humidity, and barometric pressure) in Barnaul, Russia in 2004-2011, maintained by the CliWaDIn database. The data structure was examined using the t-distributed stochastic neighbor embedding (t-SNE) method. The optimal number of clusters was selected based on Ward distance using the silhouette metric. The selected clusters were assessed with respect to their density and homogeneity. We detected that a well-defined cluster with high counts of salmonellosis occurred during warm summer days and unseasonably warm days in spring. We also detected a cluster with high counts of non-specific enteritis that occurred during unusually "very warm" winter days. The main advantage offered by the proposed technique is its ability to create a composite of meteorological conditions-a rule of thumb-to detect days favoring infectious outbreaks for a given location. These findings have major implications for understanding potential health impacts of climate change.

The concept of home to women ageing should be visited in the light of ongoing cultural, political, temporal and disciplinary evolutions. In part, to compliment policies increasing focus on supporting older adults to age in place and a growing attention on the home as a place where healthcare is designed and provided. The following concept analysis utilises Rodgers' evolutionary method to inductively analyse literature in order to elicit the meaning and experience of home among older women who are ageing at home. Literature was collected over an 18-month period during 2014-2015 and the sample was made up of 49 articles. The analysis led to the concept of home among women ageing in communities to be defined by four attributes. These attributes are home as (i) a resource, (ii) an attachment, (iii) the precariousness of maintaining and sustaining home and (iv) a cultural expectation. This analysis of the meaning and experience of home among women ageing at home has shed light on the needs for this group of women, while highlighting the need to continue to further clarify and define the concept through research.

Autologous fat transfer is a useful adjunct to augment facial soft tissue deflation in the periocular region. With meticulous technique, small aliquot placement, and reinjection at appropriate intervals, fat makes an excellent adjunct to the management of the aging face, and compliments other facial rejuvenation techniques. Appropriate counseling, realistic expectations, and meticulous technique make fat transfer an effective method of soft tissue augmentation.

We aimed to characterize dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) by the quantitative MRI parameters of longitudinal relaxation time (qT1) and transverse relaxation time (qT2). These parameters reflect potential pathological changes in tissue microstructures, which may be detectable noninvasively in brain areas without evident atrophy, so may have potential value in revealing the early neuropathological changes in DLB. We conducted a cross-sectional study of subjects with DLB (N = 35) and similarly aged control participants (N = 35). All subjects underwent a detailed clinical and neuropsychological assessment and structural and quantitative 3T MRI. Quantitative MRI maps were obtained using relaxation time mapping methods. Statistical analysis was performed on gray matter qT1 and qT2 values. We found significant alterations of quantitative parameters in DLB compared to controls. In particular, qT1 decreases in bilateral temporal lobes, right parietal lobes, basal ganglia including left putamen, left caudate nucleus and left amygdala, and left hippocampus/parahippocampus; qT2 decreases in left putamen and increases in left precuneus. These regions showed only partial overlap with areas where grey matter loss was found, making atrophy an unlikely explanation for our results. Our findings support that DLB is predominantly associated with changes in posterior regions, such as visual association areas, and subcortical structures, and that qT1 and qT2 measurement can detect subtle changes not seen on structural volumetric imaging. Hence, quantitative MRI may compliment other imaging techniques in detecting early changes in DLB and in understanding neurobiological changes associated with the disorder.

The retinae of dystrophic Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) rats exhibit progressive photoreceptor degeneration accompanied by pathology of ganglion cells. To date, little work has examined the consequences of retinal degeneration for central visual structures in dystrophic rats. Here, we use immunohistochemistry for calretinin (CR) to label retinal afferents in the superior colliculus (SC), lateral geniculate nucleus, and olivary pretectal nucleus of RCS rats aged between 2 and 26 months of age. Early indications of fiber loss in the medial dystrophic SC were apparent between 9 and 13 months. Quantitative methods reveal a significant reduction in the level of CR immunoreactivity in visual layers of the medial dystrophic SC at 13 months (P < 0.02). In dystrophic animals aged 19-26 months the loss of CR fibers in SC was dramatic, with well-defined patches of fiber degeneration predominating in medial aspects of the structure. This fiber degeneration in SC was accompanied by increased detection of cells immunoreactive for CR. In several animals, regions of fiber loss were also found to contain strongly parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells. Loss of CR fibers was also observed in the lateral geniculate nucleus and olivary pretectal nucleus. Patterns of fiber loss in the dystrophic SC compliment reports of ganglion cell degeneration in these animals and the response of collicular neurons to degeneration is discussed in terms of plasticity of the dystrophic visual system and properties of calcium binding proteins.

OBJECTIVE

To review the recent literature involving the use of continuous peripheral nerve sheath catheters in the management of postoperative pain.

RESULTS

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks provide superior analgesia and are associated with fewer opioid-induced side effects for patients undergoing extremity surgery. Ultrasound technology is being used with increasing frequency to guide the placements of continuous peripheral nerve blocks. The evidence is still equivocal regarding the superiority of stimulating versus nonstimulating catheters for the delivery of continuous peripheral nerve blockade. The incidence of major complications associated with continuous peripheral nerve blocks is very low and probably no different from single injection peripheral nerve blocks.

CONCLUSIONS

Continuous peripheral nerve blocks are an excellent additional modality to compliment other multimodal analgesics to control moderate to severe postoperative pain.

Two strategies, namely chiral inductor and chiral auxiliary approaches, have been examined within zeolites with the aim of achieving asymmetric induction during the photocyclization of cyclohexadienone, naphthalenone and pyridone derivatives. Within zeolites, enantioselectivity as high as 55% and diastereoselectivity as high as 88% have been obtained. The observed stereoselectivities are significant given the fact that these reactions gave very little stereoselectivities in isotropic solution media. The results obtained on the photocyclization of dienones, naphthalenones and N-alkyl pyridones within zeolites compliment our earlier investigations on the photocyclization of tropolone derivatives, the geometric isomerization of 1,2-diphenylcyclopropanes and 2,3-diphenyl-1-benzoyl cyclopropanes, and the Norrish type II reaction of alpha-oxoamides, phenyl adamantyl ketones, phenyl norbornyl ketones and phenyl cyclohexyl ketones. With the help of these examples, we have established the importance of zeolite and its charge compensating cations in effecting asymmetric induction in photochemical reactions.