Gathering your 'sea legs': Extended durations in an offshore environment increases postural sway excursions.

Background: Mal de debarquement (MdD), or often called 'sea legs', is the perception of self-motion after exposure to passive movement such as being on a boat at sea. Previous studies highlight sensory re-organization difficulties and postural control impairments after disembarking from sea travel in experienced crew members. However, the impact of MdD in individuals with minimal offshore experience, defined as participating in less than 2 offshore excursions per year, has not been investigated.

Effects of medial longitudinal arch flexibility on propulsion kinetics during drop vertical jumps.

This study examined the effects of medial longitudinal arch (MLA) flexibility on kinetics during the eccentric and concentric subphases of a drop vertical jump (DVJ). Physically active adults with flexible (n = 16) and stiff (n = 16) MLA completed DVJs onto a force platform from a height of 30 cm. Eccentric and concentric subphases of the DVJ were identified from the vertical ground reaction force (GRF) data.

Effects of simulated nitrogen deposition on soil microbial community diversity in coastal wetland of the Yellow River Delta.

Due to the enhancement of human activities on the global scale, the total amount of atmospheric nitrogen (N) deposition and the rate keep increasing, which seriously affect the structure and function of terrestrial ecosystems. In order to study the effects of N deposition on the soil structure and function of coastal saline wetlands, we established a long-term nitrogen deposition simulation platform in 2012 in the Yellow River delta (YRD). Herein, we analyzed the composition and diversity of the soil microbial community under different N deposition treatments (LNN, MNN and HNN, which stand for 50 kg N ha yr, 100 kg N ha yr, and 200 kg N ha yr) and in a water-only control (CK).

Red Blood Cell Transfusions in the ICU.

Red blood cells are commonly administered to critically ill patients, yet the desired benefit of improving oxygen delivery and overall outcome may not be achieved in many scenarios. In addition, blood products are of limited supply and there are clear risks associated with blood transfusion. Despite this, studies show that almost half of all ICU patients receiving blood transfusions do so in the setting of stable anemia, suggesting that many critically ill patients in the ICU may receive unnecessary transfusions.

Shifts in soil bacterial and archaeal communities during freeze-thaw cycles in a seasonal frozen marsh, Northeast China.

Diurnal freeze-thaw cycles (FTCs) occur in the spring and autumn in boreal wetlands as soil temperatures rise above freezing during the day and fall below freezing at night. A surge in methane emissions from these systems is frequently documented during spring FTCs, accounting for a large portion of annual emissions. In boreal wetlands, methane is produced as a result of syntrophic microbial processes, mediated by a consortium of fermenting bacteria and methanogenic archaea.

Reclamation history and development intensity determine soil and vegetation characteristics on developed coasts.

The question of where and how to carry out reclamation work in coastal areas is still not well addressed in coastal research. To answer the question, it is essential to quantify the impact of reclamation and the associated ecological and/or environmental responses. In this study, ordinary least square (OLS) analysis and geographical weighted regression (GWR) analysis were performed to identify the reclamation variables that affect soil and vegetation characteristics.

Detection of Amyloid β Signature in the Lens and Its Correlation in the Brain to Aid in the Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease.

We report the findings from a clinical trial in which a group of patients clinically diagnosed with probable Alzheimer's disease (AD) were discriminated from an age-matched group of healthy volunteers (HVs) with statistical significance (P<.001). The results from 20 patients with AD and 20 HVs were obtained by a Fluorescent Ligand Eye Scanning (FLES) technique that measures a fluorescent signature specific to an exogenous ligand bound to amyloid-β in the lens of the eye.

Alzheimer's disease diagnosis by detecting exogenous fluorescent signal of ligand bound to Beta amyloid in the lens of human eye: an exploratory study.

We report results of a clinical exploratory human trial involving 10 participants using a combination of a fluorescent ligand and a laser scanning device, SAPPHIRE System, as an aid in the diagnosis of Probable Alzheimer's disease (AD). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time that such a technique has been used in vivo of a human lens. The primary goal of the clinical trial, in addition to safety assessment, was to evaluate efficacy of the system.

An objective evaluation of eyedrop instillation in patients with glaucoma.

Objectives: To evaluate the performance of patients with ocular hypertension and glaucoma who are experienced in the instillation of topical ocular hypotensive medications.

Methods: We conducted a prospective, open-label study at a single private practice site. We enrolled 139 patients with a diagnosis of glaucoma or ocular hypertension who used 1 or more topical ocular hypotensive medications for at least 6 months and who instilled their own medications.

Anterior juxtascleral delivery of anecortave acetate in eyes with primary open-angle glaucoma: a pilot investigation.

Purpose: To describe the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effects in eyes with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) after treatment with an anterior juxtascleral depot of anecortave acetate.

Design: Prospective, interventional case series.

Methods: Seven eyes of six subjects with OAG, with uncontrolled IOP while being administered one or more topical medications, received 24 mg anecortave acetate delivered by anterior juxtascleral depot.

Ocular bioavailability of ciprofloxacin in sustained release formulations.

A novel sustained release delivery system of ciprofloxacin for the eye was developed. The system consists of a viscosity enhancer (carbopol gel or hydroxypropylmethylcellulose solution) plus a penetration enhancer (dodecylmaltoside) to overcome penetration barriers and loss due to wash-out and thus achieve the desired ciprofloxacin ocular absorption. The present studies were designed to assess the ocular penetration and bioavailability of ciprofloxacin in sustained release formulations.

Peak and submaximal physiologic responses following electrical stimulation leg cycle ergometer training.

Eight males with spinal cord injury (SCI) participated in an exercise training program using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) leg cycle ergometry. Each subject completed a minimum of 24 (mean +/- SD = 38.1 +/- 17.

Evaluation of BL-P1654: a semisynthetic penicillin as a topical ocular therapy.

BL-P1654 is a new semisynthetic penicillin that possesses broad spectrum antimicrobial activity against many gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. An in vitro profile of BL-P1654 was established against strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus pneumoniae, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa, three bacteria frequently associated with infections of the eye. The effectiveness of BL-P1654 in preventing the development of experimentally-induced keratitis by each of these bacteria was determined.

A clinical comparison of tobramycin and gentamicin sulfate in the treatment of ocular infections.

We evaluated the safety and efficacy of tobramycin and gentamicin sulfate ophthalmic solutions in the treatment of patients with bacterial infections of the conjunctivas. In this double-masked study involving 66 patients, the two aminoglycosides were found to be equally safe and effective, although the in vitro data suggested that tobramycin may be more efficacious against Pseudomonas infections. Staphylococcus aureus and S.

Quantitative ocular bacteriology: a method for the enumeration and identification of bacteria from the skin-lash margin and conjunctiva.

Type 1 Calgiswabs were used to collect bacterial specimens from the skin-lash margins and conjunctivae of normal volunteers. The swabs were held in a nonnutritive balanced salt solution during transportation to the laboratory. Alginate swabs were dissolved in a two-step procedure in TC Eagle's medium and 2.

Topical tobramycin and gentamicin sulfate in the treatment of ocular infections: multicenter study.

Tobramycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic newly marketed for topical ophthalmic use. In a double-masked, multicenter study, tobramycin and gentamicin sulfate, the latter an established topical aminoglycoside, were evaluated in the treatment of patients with bacterial infections of the external eye. Efficacy was determined by resolution of signs and symptoms and the follow-up impression made by the physician.

Tobramycin in external eye disease: a double-masked study vs. gentamicin.

A double-masked randomized study was conducted at four centers to compare the efficacy and safety of tobramycin and gentamicin ophthalmic ointment in the treatment of superficial external eye disease. Seventy-seven patients with blepharitis and/or conjunctivitis were evaluated for safety, and 56 of the 77 individuals also qualified for evaluation of drug efficacy. After a 10 day treatment regimen, 97% of the tobramycin treated patients and 91.

BB-K 122: in vitro and in vivo activity against ocular pathogens.

BB-K 122 is a new aminoglycoside antibiotic and an analogue of amikacin. This study evaluated the in vitro and in vivo activity of BB-K 122 and gentamicin against important ocular pathogens. BB-K 122 and gentamicin demonstrated generally equivalent in vitro antibacterial activity, except that gentamicin was more active against Streptococcus sp.

Sulfamic acid cleaning solution for 4,4'-methylene-bisorthochloroaniline (MOCA).

Laboratory tests have shown that an aqueous solution of 1.0 wt.% sulfamic acid-0.

Fine structure and distribution of extracellular polymer surrounding selected aerobic bacteria.

The structure and distribution of extracellular polymer surrounding Bacillus circulans, Diplococcus (Streptococcus) pneumoniae, Streptococcus salivarius, Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Herella vaginacola (Acinetobacter calcoaceticus), and Agrobacterium tumefaciens were studied by electron microscopy. A modified ruthenium red staining procedure was used to examine the fine structure of capsule and slime. Freeze-etching and critical-point drying were used to examine the quantity of unaltered exocellular material.