Antimicrobial drug resistance of Salmonella enterica serovar typhi in asia and molecular mechanism of reduced susceptibility to the fluoroquinolones.

This study describes the pattern and extent of drug resistance in 1,774 strains of Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi isolated across Asia between 1993 and 2005 and characterizes the molecular mechanisms underlying the reduced susceptibilities to fluoroquinolones of these strains. For 1,393 serovar Typhi strains collected in southern Vietnam, the proportion of multidrug resistance has remained high since 1993 (50% in 2004) and there was a dramatic increase in nalidixic acid resistance between 1993 (4%) and 2005 (97%). In a cross-sectional sample of 381 serovar Typhi strains from 8 Asian countries, Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Nepal, Pakistan, and central Vietnam, collected in 2002 to 2004, various rates of multidrug resistance (16 to 37%) and nalidixic acid resistance (5 to 51%) were found.

Fractal dimensions of pacing and grip force in drawing and handwriting production.

We performed a repeated measures experiment to show that the pacing of a cyclic, ballistic drawing task has a fractal dimension. We also estimated the dimensionality of the force used to grip the drawing implement. Finally, we present an analysis of pediatric data to show that grip force has a fractal dimension in an actual handwriting task.

Receptor-interacting protein 2 is a marker for resolution of peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis.

There are no predictive factors for peritoneal dialysis-associated peritonitis; however, its resolution correlates with a cell-mediated Th1 immune response. We tested the hypothesis that induction of receptor-interacting protein 2 (RIP2), an assumed kinase linked with Th1 responses, is a useful marker in this clinical setting. Basal RIP2 expression was measured in human immune cells and during dialysis-associated peritonitis.

Validation of a diagnostic algorithm for adult tuberculous meningitis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) remains difficult to diagnose. We prospectively evaluated a diagnostic algorithm for TBM in 205 HIV-negative patients with meningitis and a low CSF glucose. Patients were classified as having TBM or bacterial meningitis (BM) by two diagnostic methods: logistic regression method (LRM) and classification and regression tree (CART).

Lipopolysaccharide-mediated interferon regulatory factor activation involves TBK1-IKKepsilon-dependent Lys(63)-linked polyubiquitination and phosphorylation of TANK/I-TRAF.

Type I interferon gene induction relies on IKK-related kinase TBK1 and IKKepsilon-mediated phosphorylations of IRF3/7 through the Toll-like receptor-dependent signaling pathways. The scaffold proteins that assemble these kinase complexes are poorly characterized. We show here that TANK/ITRAF is required for the TBK1- and IKKepsilon-mediated IRF3/7 phosphorylations through some Toll-like receptor-dependent pathways and is part of a TRAF3-containing complex.

Spontaneous intra-hepatic haemorrhage in a patient with fever of unknown origin.

Polyarteritis nodosa is a systemic necrotising vasculitis that affects the small- and medium-sized arteries. Multifocal aneurysmal formation in the renal, hepatic, and mesenteric vasculature is a hallmark of this condition, and spontaneous aneurysmal rupture may occur, resulting in life-threatening haemorrhage. We describe a 42-year-old man who initially presented with fever of unknown origin.

Assessing the potential of electrodermal activity as an alternative access pathway.

An embedded multiple-case study was conducted with six able-bodied participants to evaluate the potential of electrodermal activity (EDA) as an alternative access pathway to electronic aids to daily living. Electrodermal signals were recorded while participants alternated between rest and three different mental or breathing exercises. In a subsequent experimental session, the exercise exerting the greatest influence on EDA was used to volitionally generate an 'active' state.

Dielectric elastomers as actuators for upper limb prosthetics: challenges and opportunities.

Recent research has indicated that consumers of upper limb prostheses desire lighter-weight, anthropomorphic devices. The potential of dielectric elastomer (DE) actuators to better meet the design priorities of prosthesis users is explored. Current challenges are critically reviewed with respect to (1) durability, (2) precision control, (3) energy consumption, and (4) anthropomorphic implementation.

Movement-to-music computer technology: a developmental play experience for children with severe physical disabilities.

Children with severe physical disabilities often lack the physical skills to explore their environment independently, and to play with toys or musical instruments. The movement-to-music (MTM) system is an affordable computer system that allows children with limited movements to play and create music. The present study explored parents' experiences of using the MTM system with their children.

Maternal antibody and viral factors in the pathogenesis of dengue virus in infants.

The pathogenesis of dengue in infants is poorly understood. We postulated that dengue severity in infants would be positively associated with markers of viral burden and that maternally derived, neutralizing anti-dengue antibody would have decayed before the age at which infants with dengue presented to the hospital. In 75 Vietnamese infants with primary dengue, we found significant heterogeneity in viremia and NS1 antigenemia at hospital presentation, and these factors were independent of disease grade or continuous measures of disease severity.

A common human TLR1 polymorphism regulates the innate immune response to lipopeptides.

Toll-like receptors (TLR) are critical mediators of the immune response to pathogens and human polymorphisms in this gene family regulate inflammatory pathways and are associated with susceptibility to infection. Lipopeptides are present in a wide variety of microbes and stimulate immune responses through TLR1/2 or TLR2/6 heterodimers. It is not currently known whether polymorphisms in TLR1 regulate the innate immune response.

Differential localization of vacuolar H+-ATPases containing a1, a2, a3, or a4 (ATP6V0A1-4) subunit isoforms along the nephron.

Vacuolar H(+)-ATPase are multi-subunit containing pumps important for several processes along the nephron such as receptor mediated endocytosis, acidification of intracellular organelles, bicarbonate reabsorption and secretion, and H(+)- extrusion. Mutations in the human a4 (ATP6V0A4) subunit cause distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA). There are 4 known isoforms of the 'a' subunit (a1-a4).

A polymorphism in human TLR2 is associated with increased susceptibility to tuberculous meningitis.

Tuberculous meningitis (TBM) results from the haematogenous dissemination of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from the lung to the brain. Dissemination is believed to occur early during infection, before the development of adaptive immunity. Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) mediates recognition of M.

Inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma: transarterial 188Re HDD-labeled iodized oil for treatment--prospective multicenter clinical trial.

Purpose: To prospectively evaluate, in a multicenter clinical trial, dosimetry-guided transarterial radionuclide therapy (TART) with rhenium 188 ((188)Re) 4-hexadecyl 1,2,9,9-tetramethyl-4,7-diaza-1,10-decanethiol (HDD)-labeled iodized oil in inoperable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Materials And Methods: Ninety-three patients were recruited from 2000 to 2005 for this ethics committee-approved study. Informed written consent was obtained.

Unique hepatic imaging features in a patient with nodular regenerative hyperplasia of the liver associating with systemic lupus erythematosus.

Nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) of the liver, characterized by regenerative nodules distributed throughout the liver in the absence of fibrosis, is a rare but important complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). The main consequence of NRH is non-cirrhotic portal hypertension. We describe a female patient who had immune thrombocytopenia in association with elevated liver enzymes and evidence of portal hypertension as initial manifestations of SLE.

PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism for rapid, low-cost identification of isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis.

PCR-restriction fragment length poymorphism (PCR-RFLP) is a simple, robust technique for the rapid identification of isoniazid-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. One hundred consecutive isolates from a Vietnamese tuberculosis hospital were tested by MspA1I PCR-RFLP for the detection of isoniazid-resistant katG_315 mutants. The test had a sensitivity of 80% and a specificity of 100% against conventional phenotypic drug susceptibility testing.

Patterns of host genome-wide gene transcript abundance in the peripheral blood of patients with acute dengue hemorrhagic fever.

Responses by peripheral blood leukocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF). We used DNA microarrays to reveal transcriptional patterns in the blood of 14 adults with DHF. Acute DHF was defined by an abundance of transcripts from cell cycle- and endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-related genes, suggesting a proliferative response accompanied by ER stress.

The roles of predisposing characteristics, established need, and enabling resources on upper extremity prosthesis use and abandonment.

Purpose: Prosthesis use and abandonment is a complex function of variables defining the contextualized individual. This review presents a comprehensive panoramic of these factors as related to the management of upper limb deficiency. Me

Method: nderson's model for health service utilization was used to frame prosthesis use and abandonment as a function of (1) predisposing characteristics of the individual (e.

Hepatic portal venous gas complicating septic thrombophlebitis of the superior mesenteric vein.

Hepatic portal venous gas is a rare radiological finding with a wide spectrum of underlying pathologies. We describe a case of hepatic portal venous gas due to septic thrombophlebitis of the superior mesenteric vein. The clinical management of portomesenteric venous gas and the importance of computed tomography in delineating its underlying causes are discussed.

Stationarity distributions of mechanomyogram signals from isometric contractions of extrinsic hand muscles during functional grasping.

This study investigates the stationarity of steady state mechanomyogram signals for the purpose of determining appropriate features for signal classification. Mechanomyography is the superficial recording of low frequency vibrations detected over contracting muscles. Steady state mechanomyogram signals, recorded at the belly of the extensor digitorum, flexor digitorum superficialis and flexor pollicis longus muscles during functional grasps were tested for weak stationarity.

MMG-based classification of muscle activity for prosthesis control.

We have previously proposed the use of "muscle sounds" or mechanomyography (MMG) as a reliable alternative measure of muscle activity with the main objective of facilitating the use of more comfortable and functional soft silicone sockets with below-elbow externally powered prosthesis. This work describes an integrated strategy where data and sensor fusion algorithms are combined to provide MMG-based detection, estimation and classification of muscle activity. The proposed strategy represents the first ever attempt to generate multiple output signals for practical prosthesis control using a MMG multisensor array embedded distally within a silicon soft socket.

Molecular analysis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis causing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis meningitis.

Setting: Tertiary referral hospitals in southern Vietnam.

Objective: Molecular characterisation of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculous meningitis (TBM).

Design: Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates from the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of 198 Vietnamese adults were compared with 237 isolates from patients with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) matched for age, sex and residential district.

Using community-based participatory research as a guiding framework for health disparities research centers.

There has been growing interest in conducting community-based health research using a participatory approach that involves the active collaboration of academic and community partners to address community-level health concerns. Project EXPORT (Excellence in Partnerships, Outreach, Research, and Training) is a National Center for Minority Health and Health Disparities (NCMHD) initiative focused on understanding and eliminating health disparities for racial and ethnic minorities and medically underserved populations in the United States. The New York University (NYU) Center for the Study of Asian American Health (CSAAH) is 1 of 76 Project EXPORT sites.