Characterization of Clostridium botulinum strains associated with an infant botulism case in the United Kingdom.

The sixth case of infant botulism in the United Kingdom was reported in 2001. The case was caused by a type B strain of Clostridium botulinum. Strains of C.

Adjunctive subantimicrobial dose doxycycline in smokers and non-smokers with chronic periodontitis.

Objectives: Previous studies have demonstrated the clinical benefits of sub-antimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD) in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate the role of SDD as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of smokers and non-smokers with CP.

Material And Methods: A meta-analysis of two previously reported clinical studies was undertaken.

Adjunctive subantimicrobial dose doxycycline in the management of institutionalised geriatric patients with chronic periodontitis.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD; 20 mg doxycycline twice daily) as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of moderate-severe chronic periodontitis (CP) in institutionalised elderly patients aged 65 years or older.

Background: Previous studies have shown that SDD is of clinical benefit in the treatment of CP. However, the benefits of SDD in geriatric populations (65+ years) have not been determined.

The effects of a pre-movement delay on the kinematics of prehension in middle childhood.

The present study examined the effects of a pre-movement delay on the kinematics of prehension in middle childhood. Twenty-five children between the ages of 5 and 11 years made visually open-loop reaches to two different sized objects at two different distances along the midline. Reaches took place either (i) immediately, or (ii) 2 s after the occlusion of the stimulus.

PATH across the generations: older adults' perceptions on the value of intergenerational contact.

Intergenerational programs are suggested as a way to change the attitudes of youth about older adults. However, less is known about older adults' perceptions of the effect of intergenerational experiences on their own well-being and on youth. PATH (Personal Actions To Health) Across the Generations, a state-wide intergenerational program, targets rural adults and local youth in building meaningful relationships.

Investigation of profile difference between Alzheimer's disease patients declining at different rates: examination of baseline neuropsychological data.

The rate of cognitive decline in AD has been noted to vary significantly among patients. The ability to predict the probable rate of decline early in the disease process would be of great practical importance. Attempts to analyze early cognitive deficits to find patterns associated with rapid decline have met with limited success.

Subantimicrobial dose doxycycline enhances the efficacy of scaling and root planing in chronic periodontitis: a multicenter trial.

Background: Previous studies have shown that subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD) is of clinical benefit in the treatment of chronic periodontitis (CP). The aim of this study was to further assess the role of SDD as an adjunct to scaling and root planing (SRP) in the treatment of CP.

Methods: A double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, multicenter clinical study was conducted to test the efficacy of SDD (20 mg doxycycline B.

Subantimicrobial dose doxycycline as adjunctive treatment for periodontitis. A review.

Background: Subantimicrobial dose doxycycline (SDD--20 mg doxycycline twice daily) is indicated as an adjunctive treatment for periodontitis. Doxycycline downregulates the activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), key destructive enzymes in periodontal disease. Current understanding of periodontal pathogenesis suggests that MMPs play a major role in the destruction of periodontal tissues, leading to the clinical signs of periodontitis.

The C-terminus of botulinum neurotoxin type A light chain contributes to solubility, catalysis, and stability.

Botulinum neurotoxin type A (BoNT/A) is the etiological agent responsible for botulism, a disease characterized by peripheral neuromuscular blockade. BoNT/A is produced by Clostridium botulinum as a single chain protein that is activated by proteolytic cleavage to form a 50 kDa light chain (LC, 448 amino acids) and a disulfide bond-linked 100 kDa heavy chain (HC, 847 amino acids). Whilst HC comprises the receptor binding and translocation domains, LC is a Zn2+-endopeptidase that cleaves at a single glutaminyl-arginine bond corresponding to residues 197 and 198 at the C-terminus of SNAP25.

The relationships between delivery agents' physical activity level and the likelihood of implementing a physical activity program.

Purpose: To determine the relationships between delivery agents'physical activity characteristics and subsequent adoption of a physical activity promotion program for community implementation.

Methods: Agents responsible for county health promotion in Kansas (n = 91; 94.5% women; mean age = 43.

Nucleotide sequence and transcriptional analysis of the type A2 neurotoxin gene cluster in Clostridium botulinum.

The nucleotide sequences of the upstream regions of the botulinum neurotoxin type A1 (BoNT/A1) cluster of Clostridium botulinum strain NCTC 2916 and the BoNT/A2 cluster of strain Kyoto-F were determined. A novel gene, designated orfx3, was identified following the orfx2 gene in both clusters. ORF-X2 and ORF-X3 exhibit similarity to the BoNT cluster associated P-47 protein.

Simulation study of a quasi-monochromatic beam for x-ray computed mammotomography.

The purpose of this simulation study was to evaluate the feasibility, benefits, and potential operating parameters of a quasi-monochromatic beam from a tungsten-target x-ray source yielding projection images. The application is intended for newly developed cone beam computed mammotomography (CmT) of an uncompressed breast. The value of a near monochromatic x-ray source for a fully 3D CmT application is the expected improved ability to separate tissues with very small differences in attenuation coefficients.

Binocular cues and the control of prehension.

The present study was designed to assess the importance of binocular information (i.e. binocular disparity and angle of convergence) in the control of prehension.

Subject ordered pointing task performance following severe traumatic brain injury in adults.

The utility of a non-verbal, untimed subject ordered pointing task for identifying memory deficit in adult patients with TBI was tested. Using a cross-sectional design, the working memory performance of 70 adults with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and 45 uninjured adults was investigated on a computerized, self-paced, non-verbal subject ordered pointing task. Persons with severe TBI were impaired on measures of working memory relative to the control subjects.

The nursing student with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in college-age students presents a complex challenge of coping with academic coursework, refining life skills, and addressing self-limitations. Behaviors that characterize ADHD are particularly problematic for nursing students, especially when the student has difficulty with behaviors that exemplify executive functioning. The authors discuss symptoms and treatments associated with the diagnosis of ADHD and evaluation and interventions for college students, based on guidelines from the Americans With Disabilities Act.

The role of binocular information in the 'on-line' control of prehension.

Binocular visual information may be involved in the selection of appropriate motor programs before a reach is executed or it may be involved during the movement-execution phase in order to monitor and guide the hand to the target object. Here we introduced binocular information after 0%, 25%, 50% or 75% of the movement-execution phase and determined its effects on the kinematic indices of prehensile movements made to objects of different sizes placed at different distances. Kinematic indices linked to the transport component, such as peak velocity and time-to-peak velocity, were unaffected by the presence of binocular cues whereas later occurring indices, such as peak grip aperture and time in the slow phase, were significantly affected.

Attention affects the stereoscopic depth aftereffect.

'Preattentive' vision is typically considered to include several low-level processes, including the perception of depth from binocular disparity and motion parallax. However, doubt was cast on this model when it was shown that a secondary attentional task can modulate the motion aftereffect (Chaudhuri, 1990 Nature 344 60-62). Here we investigate whether attention can also affect the depth aftereffect (Blakemore and Julesz, 1971 Science 171 286-288).

Geometric and induced effects in binocular stereopsis and motion parallax.

This paper examines and contrasts motion-parallax analogues of the induced-size and induced-shear effects with the equivalent induced effects from binocular disparity. During lateral head motion or with binocular stereopsis, vertical-shear and vertical-size transformations produced 'induced effects' of apparent inclination and slant that are not predicted geometrically. With vertical head motion, horizontal-shear and horizontal-size transformations produced similar analogues of the disparity induced effects.

Defining the ascorbic acid crossover from anti-oxidant to pro-oxidant in a model wine matrix containing (+)-catechin.

An examination of the ascorbic acid-induced oxidation of (+)-catechin was carried out. Using varying concentrations of ascorbic acid in a model white winebase, it was observed that there are at least two distinct steps in its oxidation process. The first step involves the formation of species that absorb in the visible region of the spectrum, while the second step generates species of less or no absorbance in the visible region.

The visual control of reaching and grasping: binocular disparity and motion parallax.

The primary visual sources of depth and size information are binocular cues and motion parallax. Here, the authors determine the efficacy of these cues to control prehension by presenting them in isolation from other visual cues. When only binocular cues were available, reaches showed normal scaling of the transport and grasp components with object distance and size.

Neurotoxin gene clusters in Clostridium botulinum type A strains: sequence comparison and evolutionary implications.

The nucleotide sequence of the hemagglutinin ( ha) genes and the transcriptional regulator botR gene were determined in type A Clostridium botulinum strain 62A, and the complete nucleotide sequence of the botulinum neurotoxin (BoNT) gene cluster was determined in strain Hall A- hyper. Comparison of the BoNT/A gene clusters revealed only two nucleotide differences between the two strains. The nucleotide sequences of the regions flanking the BoNT clusters were also determined in strains 62A, Hall A- hyper, and type A(B) strain NCTC 2916.

Effects of subantimicrobial-dose doxycycline in the treatment of moderate acne.

Objective: To determine if treatment with subantimicrobial-dose (SD) doxycycline hyclate (20-mg tablets taken twice daily) improved clinical outcome, had any detectable effect on skin flora, led to overgrowth or colonization of skin by opportunistic pathogens, or resulted in an increase in antibiotic resistance by the surface skin microflora in patients with moderate acne compared with placebo.

Design: Multicenter, double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, parallel-group trial.

Setting: Two university-based clinics.