Changes in Left Ventricular Torsion Early Postoperatively After Aortic Valve Replacement and at Long-Term Follow-up.

Objective: In patients with aortic stenosis, left ventricular systolic torsion (pT) is increased to overcome excessive afterload. This study assessed left ventricular torsion before and immediately after surgical valve replacement and tested the instant effect of fluid loading.

Design: Prospective, clinical single-center study.

The negative charge of the membrane has opposite effects on the membrane entry and exit of pH-low insertion peptide.

The pH-low insertion peptide (pHLIP) targets acidic diseases such as cancer. The acidity of the environment causes key aspartic acids in pHLIP to become protonated, causing the peptide to insert into membranes. Here we investigate how the negative charge of the membrane influences how pHLIP enters and exits the lipid bilayer.

Left ventricular torsion abnormalities in septic shock and corrective effect of volume loading: a pilot study.

Background: Ventricular torsion is an important component of cardiac function. The effect of septic shock on left ventricular torsion is not known. Because torsion is influenced by changes in preload, we compared the effect of fluid loading on left ventricular torsion in septic shock with the response in matched healthy control subjects.

Left ventricular rotation: a neglected aspect of the cardiac cycle.

Purpose: To describe the mechanics and possible clinical importance of left ventricular (LV) rotation, exemplify techniques to quantify LV rotation and illustrate the temporal relationship of cardiac pressures, electrocardiogram and LV rotation.

Materials And Methods: Review of the literature combined with selected examples of echocardiographic measurements.

Results: Rotation of the left ventricle around its longitudinal axis is an important but thus far neglected aspect of the cardiac cycle.

Calibration of the modified Electrical Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI) for use with pressurized pharmaceutical aerosols.

The modified Electrical Low Pressure Impactor (ELPI) is currently being used in several laboratories to determine inherent electrostatic charge of pharmaceutical aerosols as a function of their particle size. However, the ELPI appears to underestimate the aerodynamic particle size distributions (aPSDs) of pressurized metered dose inhalers (pMDIs), casting doubt upon the manufacturer's calibration. In the present study, four commercially available pMDIs with a range of aPSDs were used to recalibrate cutoff diameters (d50s) of the ELPI stages using a reference ACI.

A computer-assisted data collection system for use in a multicenter study of American Indians and Alaska Natives: SCAPES.

We describe a computer-assisted data collection system developed for a multicenter cohort study of American Indian and Alaska Native people. The study computer-assisted participant evaluation system or SCAPES is built around a central database server that controls a small private network with touch screen workstations. SCAPES encompasses the self-administered questionnaires, the keyboard-based stations for interviewer-administered questionnaires, a system for inputting medical measurements, and administrative tasks such as data exporting, backup and management.

Dextromethorphan abuse in adolescence: an increasing trend: 1999-2004.

Objectives: To analyze the trend of dextromethorphan abuse in California and to compare these findings with national trends.

Design: A 6-year retrospective review.

Setting: California Poison Control System (CPCS), American Association of Poison Control Centers (AAPCC), and Drug Abuse Warning Network (DAWN) databases from January 1, 1999, to December 31, 2004.

Elastodynamic wave propagation in graded materials: simulations, experiments, phenomena, and applications.

A two-dimensional numerical simulation model for the elastodynamic wave propagation in two linear elastic, isotropic, joint half-spaces is presented. The border between the two half-spaced is graded in a way, that the values of the elastic properties and the densities vary smoothly (sinusoidally) from the values of one continuum to the values of the other continuum within a transition zone of a defined thickness. It is demonstrated, that a graded layer leads to a frequency and wavelength dependent refraction and reflection behavior of elastodynamic waves.

Characterization of Ta and TaN diffusion barriers beneath Cu layers using picosecond ultrasonics.

In computer chips, aluminum is being replaced with copper in order to produce smaller, faster and more efficient electronic devices. The usage of copper allows higher current densities and thus higher packaging densities than aluminum. However, copper leads to new challenges and problems.

Comparison of allergenic skin test with serological and bacteriological examinations of cattle for Listeria monocytogenes.

Five herds, each containing 200 to 300 cows, were surveyed for listeriosis. Since listeriosis is predominantly linked to reproductive diseases in the surveyed area, suspected cows were first selected according to the records on their previous reproductive disorders such as abortion, endometritis and sterility. By simultaneous serological, bacteriological and skin allergenic testing 40 cows suffering from listeriosis were detected.

Antibody response of dairy cattle experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes.

The purpose of our study was to monitor the humoral immune response of 34 lactating dairy cattle experimentally infected with Listeria monocytogenes (strain Scott A, serotype 4b). Twenty-seven animals were inoculated with 10(6) to 10(7) c.f.

Effects of dexamethasone on shedding of Listeria monocytogenes in dairy cattle.

Ten lactating Holstein cows that had been given multiple injections of Listeria monocytogenes (serotype 4B, Scott A strain) via the intramammary route were allotted to 2 groups: group 1 (n = 5) was treated with the synthetic glucocorticoid, dexamethasone (0.04 mg/kg of body weight), for 3 consecutive days, and group 2 (n = 5) served as controls. Two days after the initial dexamethasone injection, the number of L monocytogenes in the milk had increased nearly 15-fold (1.

Antigenic and restriction enzyme analysis of isolates of Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis recovered from persistently infected cattle.

Thirty-two isolates of Campylobacter fetus subsp venerealis were obtained from 1 bull and 4 heifers with experimentally induced infection. When whole-cell antigens of isolates were cross titrated with antisera to the infecting strain, isolates from 3 heifers had limited antigenic variation, whereas whole-cell antigens of isolates from 2 cattle (the bull and a heifer) differed serologically from those of the infecting strain. Changes were detected specifically in 6 heat-labile antigens.

Comparison of Four Procedures to Detect Listeria spp. in Foods.

A comparison was made of four procedures to detect Listeria spp. in two food categories. The study comprised 309 assays, 71 on milk from both infected and uninfected cows, and 238 on ten types of fresh vegetables.

Research on listeriosis in milk cows with intramammary inoculation of Listeria monocytogenes.

The purpose of our work was to produce 600 litre quantities of milk containing (per ml) 5000 viable Listeria monocytogenes, for certification of standard pasteurization technique. Preliminary research indicates deep (10 cm) inoculation via teat canal with 3 injections, (10(3), 10(5), 10(7)) per 10-day interval, was better than intraocular or per os route for establishing chronic L. monocytogenes mastitis.

Vaccination of pregnant guinea pigs with Campylobacter fetus: effects of antigen dose, Campylobacter strain, and adjuvant type.

For the purpose of developing and improving vaccines to protect cattle against bovine genital campylobacteriosis, the interaction of vaccine dose, strain(s) of Campylobacter fetus, and type of adjuvant was studied in the pregnant guinea pig model. Five strains of C fetus were used in the preparation of 20 monovalent vaccines containing various doses of bacteria (0.1 mg to 20 mg, dry weight) in Freund incomplete adjuvant, Freund complete adjuvant, or aluminum hydroxide gel adjuvant.

Characterization of an unclassified microaerophilic bacterium associated with gastroenteritis.

Four isolates of an unclassified microaerophilic bacterium resembling Campylobacter species were characterized by growth requirements, microscopic examination, biochemical characteristics, antimicrobial susceptibility tests, and protein profile analysis. The unclassified isolates were differentiated from Campylobacter jejuni, Campylobacter coli, Campylobacter fetus subsp. fetus, Campylobacter laridis, Campylobacter pylori, and an ovine isolate.

Pathogenesis of Campylobacter fetus infections: serum resistance associated with high-molecular-weight surface proteins.

Campylobacter fetus subspecies fetus causes both systemic and diarrheal illnesses. We studied 38 strains of C. fetus isolated from 34 patients; underlying illness was present in eight (89%) of nine patients with only systemic isolates compared with three (20%) of 15 patients with only fecal isolates (P = .

Experimental infection and abortion of pregnant guinea pigs with a unique spirillum-like bacterium isolated from aborted ovine fetuses.

Study was made of the pathogenicity of a spirillum-like, anaerobic, gram-negative bacterium, originally isolated from aborted lambs, for pregnant guinea pigs. Reproducible conditions for propagation and preservation of the bacterium were determined as requisite for the preparation of cultures for animal inoculation. A preliminary experiment was done with 10 pregnant guinea pigs to test for an infective dose of organisms that would produce abortion.