Teaching doctors how to diagnose paroxysmal events: a comparison of two educational methods.

Objectives: Two educational methods, facilitated case discussion and a computerised tutorial, were compared for teaching about childhood epilepsy. We used a comprehensive and clinically relevant assessment method to evaluate the hypothesis that a computerised tutorial more effectively increases knowledge acquisition than a facilitated case discussion.

Methods: Paediatric trainees (n = 66) were arbitrarily allocated to facilitated case discussion or computerised tutorial.

Ethnicity and quality of antipsychotic prescribing among in-patients in south London.

Ethnicity may influence treatment decisions in mental disorders. We undertook a survey of the prescribing of antipsychotics for in-patients in three south London mental health trusts. A total of 255 patients (152 White, 103 Black) were included.

Impact of congenital talipes equinovarus etiology on treatment outcomes.

Although congenital talipes equinovarus (CTEV) is often idiopathic, additional birth defects occur in some patients that may have an impact on the treatment of this disorder. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of associated malformations, chromosomal abnormalities, or known genetic syndromes, and to compare treatment outcomes of children with idiopathic CTEV with children with non-idiopathic CTEV. Of 357 children evaluated, 273 (76%) had idiopathic CTEV (179 males, 94 females; mean age 2 y 1 mo [SD 1 y 2 mo], range 0-18 y) and 84 (24%) had non-idiopathic CETV (51 males, 33 females; mean age 2 y 5 mo [SD 2 y], range 0-16 y).

Differential rates of apoptosis and recruitment limit eosinophil accumulation in the lungs of asthma-resistant CBA/Ca mice.

The accumulation of eosinophils is a common feature of allergic airway inflammation and correlates with disease severity. In an ovalbumin (OVA)-induced murine model of allergic lung disease, CBA/Ca mice develop much lower levels of lung eosinophilia, lung oedema, mucus hypersecretion and airways obstruction than BALB/c and C57BL/6 strains. In this study these strains have been examined to identify mechanisms that control the recruitment and survival of eosinophils in the allergic lung.

Fast-track surgery may reduce complications following major colonic surgery.

Purpose: Fast-track (enhanced recovery) care pathways for colonic surgery are becoming increasingly popular; however, there have been concerns regarding protocol compliance, high readmission rates, and also the true impact on morbidity rates with these protocols. This study was conducted to assess the impact of a fast-track program for colonic surgery on hospital stay, complications, and readmission rates.

Methods: From December 2005 to March 2007, consecutive patients undergoing colonic surgery were prospectively studied.

In vivo imaging of embryonic stem cells reveals patterns of survival and immune rejection following transplantation.

Embryonic stem cell (ESC)-based transplantation is considered a promising novel therapy for a variety of diseases. This is bolstered by the suggested immune-privileged properties of ESCs. In this study, we used in vivo bioluminescent imaging (BLI) to non-invasively track the fate of transplanted murine ESCs (mESCs), which are stably transduced with a double fusion reporter gene consisting of firefly luciferase (FLuc) and enhanced green fluorescent protein (eGFP).

Sexual function 6 months after first delivery.

Objective: To explore the association of anal sphincter laceration and sexual function 6 months postpartum in the Childbirth and Pelvic Symptoms (CAPS) cohort.

Methods: The primary CAPS study, a prospective cohort study, was designed to estimate the postpartum prevalence and incidence of urinary and fecal incontinence. Three cohorts of new mothers (vaginal delivery with a third- or fourth-degree anal sphincter tear, vaginal delivery without a third- or fourth-degree anal sphincter tear, and cesarean delivery without labor) were compared at 6 months postpartum.

Tibiofemoral cartilage thickness distribution and its correlation with anthropometric variables.

The objective of this study was to determine tibiofemoral cartilage thickness distribution, and to investigate the relationship between cartilage geometry and anthropometric variables. In this study, 20 magnetic resonance examinations of the knee from normal individuals were reconstructed to provide three-dimensional models of the knee joint, including bony and cartilage surfaces. Three regions were defined on the articular surface, and the cartilage thickness distribution along each of these was determined.

Introducing the first polymer-free leflunomide eluting stent.

Background: We here describe the pharmacological characteristic, in vivo efficacy, and in vitro mechanisms of a polymer-free leflunomide eluting stent in comparison to its rapamycin-coated equivalent.

Methods: Stents were coated with 40 mM solutions of leflunomide (L) or rapamycin (R) or were left uncoated (BM). Neointima formation was assessed 6 weeks after implantation into Sprague Dawley rats by optical coherence tomographies (OCT) and histopathology.

Comparison of reporter gene and iron particle labeling for tracking fate of human embryonic stem cells and differentiated endothelial cells in living subjects.

Human embryonic stem (hES) cells are pluripotent stem cells capable of self-renewal and differentiation into virtually all cell types. Thus, they hold tremendous potential as cell sources for regenerative therapies. The concurrent development of accurate, sensitive, and noninvasive technologies capable of monitoring hES cells engraftment in vivo can greatly expedite basic research prior to future clinical translation.

Predictors of successful voiding before hospital discharge after urinary stress incontinence surgery.

This study aims to identify variables associated with successful voiding before hospital discharge in women undergoing urinary stress incontinence (USI) surgery. Medical records of women who underwent USI surgery between July 1997 and October 2005 were reviewed. Demographic, urodynamic, and perioperative data were recorded.

Buccal midazolam for agitation on psychiatric intensive care wards.

Midazolam is a benzodiazepine known to be effective as a treatment for status epilepticus and for rapid tranquillisation. Buccal midazolam has recently become available in the UK. We introduced it as a treatment option for rapid tranquillisation on our intensive care wards.

Genetic modification of embryonic stem cells with VEGF enhances cell survival and improves cardiac function.

Cardiac stem cell therapy remains hampered by acute donor cell death posttransplantation and the lack of reliable methods for tracking cell survival in vivo. We hypothesize that cells transfected with inducible vascular endothelial growth factor 165 (VEGF(165)) can improve their survival as monitored by novel molecular imaging techniques. Mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells were transfected with an inducible, bidirectional tetracycline (Bi-Tet) promoter driving VEGF(165) and renilla luciferase (Rluc).

Identification of membrane-associated proteins from Campylobacter jejuni strains using complementary proteomics technologies.

Campylobacter jejuni is the leading cause of food- and water-borne illness world-wide. The membrane-associated proteome of a recent C. jejuni gastrointestinal isolate (JHH1) was generated by sodium carbonate precipitation and ultracentrifugation followed by 2-DE and MALDI-TOF MS as well as 2-DLC (strong cation exchange followed by RP chromatography) of trypsin digests coupled to MS/MS (2-DLC/MS/MS).

Sensitive ultrasonic delineation of steroid treatment in living dystrophic mice with energy-based and entropy-based radio frequency signal processing.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy is a severe wasting disease, involving replacement of necrotic muscle tissue by fibrous material and fatty infiltrates. One primary animal model of this human disease is the X chromosome-linked mdx strain of mice. The goals of the present work were to validate and quantify the capability of both energy and entropy metrics of radio-frequency ultrasonic backscatter to differentiate among normal, dystrophic, and steroid-treated skeletal muscle in the mdx model.

Observations of the Askaryan effect in ice.

We report on observations of coherent, impulsive radio Cherenkov radiation from electromagnetic showers in solid ice. This is the first observation of the Askaryan effect in ice. As part of the complete validation process for the ANITA experiment, we performed an experiment at the Stanford Linear Accelerator Center in June 2006 using a 7.

Binge eating tendencies and anger coping: investigating the confound of trait neuroticism in a non-clinical sample.

Objective: Binge eating has been found to be associated with anger suppression. However, the anger suppression measure used in previous research is highly saturated with trait neuroticism. Furthermore, the dichotomised view of anger coping as either 'in' or 'out' has been questioned.

In vivo genetic profiling and cellular localization of apelin reveals a hypoxia-sensitive, endothelial-centered pathway activated in ischemic heart failure.

Signaling by the peptide ligand apelin and its cognate G protein-coupled receptor APJ has a potent inotropic effect on cardiac contractility and modulates systemic vascular resistance through nitric oxide-dependent signaling. In addition, there is evidence for counterregulation of the angiotensin and vasopressin pathways. Regulatory stimuli of the apelin-APJ pathway are of obvious importance but remain to be elucidated.

Spatial and temporal kinetics of teratoma formation from murine embryonic stem cell transplantation.

Pluripotent embryonic stem (ES) cells have the potential to form teratomas composed of derivatives from all three germ layers in animal models. This tumorigenic potential prevents clinical translation of ES cell research. In order to understand the biology and physiology of teratoma formation, we investigated the influence of undifferentiated ES cell number, migration, and long-term follow up after transplantation.

A triangulated approach to the assessment of teaching in childhood epilepsy.

Background: A comprehensive methodology is needed to assess student teaching. The present study employed a triangulated approach evaluating participant perceptions of learning, critical reflection by the lecturer and peer observation to measure confidence, interest and usefulness of the subject matter.

Methods: Using an interactive lecturing style, seven teaching sessions were delivered to medical students and junior doctors.

Factors related to lower urinary tract symptoms among a sample of employed women in Taipei.

Aim: To identify factors associated with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) among female elementary school teachers in Taipei.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional, descriptive study. A total of 520 surveys were distributed to 26 elementary schools in Taipei.

RAG2 gene knockout in mice causes fatigue.

The effect of a disrupted immune system on the neuromuscular system is poorly characterized. We compared the strength and fatigue of RAG2(-/-) mice, which lack T-cells and B-cells, with immune intact controls. RAG2(-/-) mice demonstrated fatigue with shorter inverted hang-times (HT) and voluntary wheel-running (VWR) distance and total run times; they increased body weight more slowly but had proportionally normal forelimb grip strength (FGS) and VWR speed.

Memory and phonological awareness in children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy compared to a matched control group.

Purpose: In a previous study we demonstrated children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy have normal intelligence and language ability. However, difficulties in verbal and visual memory and aspects of phonological awareness were found compared to normative data. To address the methodological limitations related to the use of normative data, we compared the same cohort of children with Benign Rolandic Epilepsy to a matched control group.

Effect of congenital blindness on the semantic representation of some everyday concepts.

This study explores how the lack of first-hand experience with color, as a result of congenital blindness, affects implicit judgments about "higher-order" concepts, such as "fruits and vegetables" (FV), but not others, such as "household items" (HHI). We demonstrate how the differential diagnosticity of color across our test categories interacts with visual experience to produce, in effect, a category-specific difference in implicit similarity. Implicit pair-wise similarity judgments were collected by using an odd-man-out triad task.

Sensitive ultrasonic detection of dystrophic skeletal muscle in patients with duchenne muscular dystrophy using an entropy-based signal receiver.

The dystrophinopathies comprise a group of X-linked genetic diseases that feature dystrophin deficiency. Duchenne and Becker muscular dystrophy are characterized by progressive weakness and wasting of skeletal, smooth, and/or cardiac muscle. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is the most severe dystrophinopathy, with an incidence of 1:3500 male births.