Susceptibility of oral bacteria to an antimicrobial decapeptide.

Naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides have emerged as alternative classes of antimicrobials. In general, these antimicrobial peptides exhibit selectivity for prokaryotes and minimize the problems of engendering microbial resistance. As an alternative method to search for more effective broad-spectrum peptide antimicrobials, investigators have developed peptide libraries by using synthetic combinatorial technology.

Effect of recombinant ApoA-I Milano on coronary atherosclerosis in patients with acute coronary syndromes: a randomized controlled trial.

Context: Although low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) increase risk for coronary disease, no data exist regarding potential benefits of administration of HDL-C or an HDL mimetic. ApoA-I Milano is a variant of apolipoprotein A-I identified in individuals in rural Italy who exhibit very low levels of HDL. Infusion of recombinant ApoA-I Milano-phospholipid complexes produces rapid regression of atherosclerosis in animal models.

Coronary plaque morphology and frequency of ulceration distant from culprit lesions in patients with unstable and stable presentation.

Objective: Intravascular ultrasound studies describe ruptured coronary plaques at sites remote from the culprit lesion in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI), suggesting multifocal plaque vulnerability. However, the role of intravascular ultrasound in the diagnosis of lesion vulnerability before rupture is unclear.

Methods And Results: We compared morphology and frequency of ulceration of additional plaques proximal to the culprit lesion in 105 patients treated with emergent stenting during an evolving, acute MI in the CADILLAC study and 92 patients with stable/subacute presentation who underwent elective stenting.

Case reports of on-site investigations of auger-related farm injuries.

Previous reports have indicated that injuries involving augers (screw conveyors) are a serious problem in agriculture, but to date on-site engineering inspections linking injuries to mechanical and procedural aspects have not been available. This article details four events involving injuries as the result of being entangled in auger flighting. In each report, the circumstances surrounding the injury event are outlined, and the machinery involved is evaluated in terms of its compliance with current safety standards.

THz-Spectroscopy of Biological Molecules.

The terahertz frequency absorption spectraof DNA molecules reflect low-frequencyinternal helical vibrations involvingrigidly bound subgroups that are connectedby the weakest bonds, including thehydrogen bonds of the DNA base pairs,and/or non-bonded interactions. Althoughnumerous difficulties make the directidentification of terahertz phonon modes inbiological materials very challenging, ourresearch has shown that such measurementsare both possible and fruitful. Spectra ofdifferent DNA samples reveal a large numberof modes and a reasonable level ofsequence-specific uniqueness.

Early constriction or expansion of the external elastic membrane area determines the late remodeling response and cumulative lumen loss in transplant vasculopathy: an intravascular ultrasound study with 4-year follow-up.

Background: Early constriction of the external elastic membrane (EEM) area has been observed after cardiac transplantation. The aim of this study was to compare the late disease process of transplant vasculopathy between coronary segments with early constrictive and expansive remodeling.

Methods: Serial intravascular ultrasound data obtained annually for 4 years after transplantation in 38 transplant recipients was available.

Variability of area measurements obtained with different intravascular ultrasound catheter systems: Impact on clinical trials and a method for accurate calibration.

Background: Atherosclerotic plaque burden is the major end point in ongoing progression trials. Intravascular ultrasound allows precise measurements of coronary artery dimensions. However, the variability of measurements among different catheter systems is incompletely characterized.

Influence of coronary pulsation on volumetric intravascular ultrasound measurements performed without ECG-gating. Validation in vessel segments with minimal disease.

Volumetric analysis of coronary arteries can be performed using intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) images selected at 1 mm intervals without ECG gating. However, there are few data regarding the influence of coronary pulsation on this volumetric analysis. We developed two models of consecutive area measurements consisting of duplicated area measurements from short coronary segments and virtual measurements based on a sine function.

Survey of occupational therapy practitioners in southwestern schools: assessments used and preparation of students for school-based practice.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to identify current practice in assessment use of school-based occupational therapy practitioners and to identify their expectations of student performance in assessment upon completion of the pediatric Fieldwork II experience. A survey of school-based occupational therapists in the southwestern states was conducted to answer three research questions: (1) what standardized assessments are currently used frequently and occasionally by occupational therapy practitioners in the school setting, (2) what level of competency in assessment administration by Fieldwork II students is expected by supervising occupational therapists, and (3) what educational preparation did the practitioners receive prior to their employment in schools and what professional support is currently available to them?

Method: A five page questionnaire was mailed to 406 practicing therapists in four southwestern states with a response rate of 74.1 percent using Dillman's Total Design Method.

Computerized scoring of histopathology for predicting coronary vasculopathy, validated by intravascular ultrasound.

Background: Allograft coronary vasculopathy results from a complex interplay between immunologic and non-immunologic factors. We devised a computerized biopsy scoring method based on histopathology to predict the development of coronary vasculopathy.

Methods: One hundred forty heart transplant recipients underwent serial intravascular ultrasound analysis at baseline (within 1 month) and at 1 year after transplantation and were evaluated for development of coronary vasculopathy (change in coronary maximal intimal thickness, CMIT).

Outcomes of an occupational therapy program for mothers of children with disabilities: impact on satisfaction with time use and occupational performance.

Objective: This experimental research study evaluated the impact of an 8-week psychosocial occupational therapy intervention program for mothers who have children with disabilities.

Method: Thirty-eight mothers of children with disabilities were randomly assigned to participate either in the treatment or the control group (19 in each). The occupational therapy intervention was designed to facilitate increased perceptions of satisfaction with time use and occupational performance, thereby positively affecting maternal and family well-being.

Relation of matrix-metalloproteinase 3 found in coronary lesion samples retrieved by directional coronary atherectomy to intravascular ultrasound observations on coronary remodeling.

We investigated the relation between the presence of matrix-metalloproteinases (MMPs) and direction of remodeling in the coronary lesions of 35 patients. Positive arterial remodeling describes a compensatory expansion of the external elastic membrane (EEM) area of atherosclerotic lesions. An association between positive remodeling and unstable clinical presentation has been previously described.

Submillimeter-wave phonon modes in DNA macromolecules.

A detailed investigation of phonon modes in DNA macromolecules is presented. This work presents experimental evidence to confirm the presence of multiple dielectric resonances in the submillimeter-wave spectra (i.e.

Myocardial ischemic-fibrotic injury after human heart transplantation is associated with increased progression of vasculopathy, decreased cellular rejection and poor long-term outcome.

Objectives: We sought to assess the influence of peritransplant ischemia and fibrosis on the development of allograft vasculopathy, acute cellular rejection and long-term outcome.

Background: Allograft vasculopathy is a common long-term complication of cardiac transplantation. One of the potential risk factors is peritransplant allograft ischemia.

Lumen loss in transplant coronary artery disease is a biphasic process involving early intimal thickening and late constrictive remodeling: results from a 5-year serial intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: Coronary artery disease is the major cause of late cardiac allograft failure. However, few data exist regarding the natural history of changes in intimal and external elastic membrane (EEM) areas after heart transplantation.

Methods And Results: In 38 transplant recipients, serial intravascular ultrasound examinations were performed 3.

Impact of lipid abnormalities in development and progression of transplant coronary disease: a serial intravascular ultrasound study.

Objectives: We sought to determine the role of conventional atherosclerosis risk factors in the development and progression of transplant coronary artery disease (CAD) using serial intravascular ultrasound imaging.

Background: Transplant artery disease is a combination of allograft vasculopathy and donor atherosclerosis. The clinical determinants for each of these disease processes are not well characterized.

Adventitial hematoma triggering coronary spasm during percutaneous coronary intervention.

During percutaneous coronary intervention of the left anterior descending coronary artery, a lumen narrowing was observed proximal to the stent just deployed. Intravascular ultrasound showed a hematoma localized outside the trilaminar wall structure in absence of a dissection flap or evidence of compression of the lumen. The luminal narrowing resolved after intracoronary administration of vasodilators.

Concurrent validity of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development II Motor Scale and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales in two-year-old children.

Concurrent validity of the Bayley Scales of Infant Development, Second Edition (BSID II) Motor Scale and the Peabody Developmental Motor Scales (PDMS) was examined by administering both tests to 38 two-year-old Native American children. A correlation analysis of age equivalent scores indicated very good to high correlation for the BSID II Motor Scale with the PDMS Fine Motor Scale (PDFMS) (r = .87) and the PDMS Gross Motor Scale (PDGMS) (r = .

Inhibition of enzymic digestion of amylose by free fatty acids in vitro contributes to resistant starch formation.

The effect of lipids on the enzymic breakdown of starch was investigated using an in vitro assay system. Mixtures of potato amylose, amylopectin and starch and various lipids were incubated at 37 degrees C for 10 min and subjected to digestion by alpha-amylase (EC 3.2.

Intravascular ultrasound imaging after cardiac transplantation: advantage of multi-vessel imaging.

Background: Intravascular ultrasound is a sensitive tool to study transplant vasculopathy. However, there is no consensus regarding the methodology for imaging protocol. The impact of single versus multiple epicardial vessel imaging in determining the prevalence of transplant vasculopathy has not been determined.

Mothers' perceptions of child care assistance: the impact of a child's disability.

Objective: This study examined and compared mothers' perceptions of child care assistance provided by fathers and other caregivers. Awareness of child care division of labor will assist occupational therapists in addressing the needs of children with disabilities within the family context.

Method: One hundred and thirty-five mothers living in two-parent households kept a time diary of their daily activities for 7 consecutive days using the Caregiver's Activity and Recording of Events Inventory and estimated the percentage of child care their partners performed, the amount of child care their partners performed, and their satisfaction with this division of labor.

Extent and direction of arterial remodeling in stable versus unstable coronary syndromes : an intravascular ultrasound study.

Background: The morphological characteristics of coronary plaques in patients with stable versus unstable coronary syndromes have been described in vivo with intravascular ultrasound, but the relationship between arterial remodeling and clinical presentation is not well known.

Methods And Results: We studied 85 patients with unstable and 46 patients with stable coronary syndromes using intravascular ultrasound before coronary intervention. The lesion site and a proximal reference site were analyzed.