Outcome after prolonged convulsive seizures in 186 children: low morbidity, no mortality.

Prolonged convulsive seizures are a common neurological emergency and a potential cause of neuronal damage and functional sequelae. We explored the role of seizure duration and various background factors for neurological sequelae in children with prolonged convulsive seizures. The population-base of this study was all children (age < 16 years) who had been admitted to the Tampere University Hospital, Finland between 1993 and 1999 with convulsive seizures lasting more than 5 minutes.

Understanding the importance of values and moral attitudes in nursing care in preserving human dignity.

The purpose of this investigation was to explore when nursing becomes an art, and to develop a theory/model of nursing as art. The overall design of the investigation was qualitative, and phenomenological-hermeneutic. The five substantial categories in the theory/model are: Invitation and confirmation, encounter, values, moral attitude and demeanor, the act of good will, and aesthetic communication.

Drugs to interfere with orexins (hypocretins).

Orexins (hypocretins) are bioactive peptides linking arousal, appetite and neuroendocrine-autonomic control. Dysfunction of the orexin system is associated with narcolepsy-cataplexy. Here, we review drugs interfering with orexins directly such as novel selective orexin receptor agonists and antagonists, as well as drugs interfering with orexins indirectly such as those used for the treatment of narcolepsy-cataplexy, and pharmacological targets within the complex network of endogenous neurohumoral signals integrated and relayed by the orexin system.

Contrasting functions of calreticulin and calnexin in glycoprotein folding and ER quality control.

Calreticulin and calnexin are homologous lectins that serve as molecular chaperones for glycoproteins in the endoplasmic reticulum of eukaryotic cells. Here we show that calreticulin depletion specifically accelerates the maturation of cellular and viral glycoproteins with a modest decrease in folding efficiency. Calnexin depletion prevents proper maturation of some proteins such as influenza hemagglutinin but does not interfere appreciably with the maturation of several others.

Microbial superantigens as virulence factors and ways to counteract their actions.

Microbial superantigens represent a group of molecules that is able to cause massive activation of the host immune system. Human diseases originating from superantigen-secreting bacterial agents are characterized by shock, which continues to pose major health problems. Presently, the treatment of superantigen-mediated infections is limited to the administration of antibiotics and handling of the state of shock.

Co-ordinated expression of 5-HT2C receptors with the NCX1 Na+/Ca2+ exchanger in histaminergic neurones.

The different roles of Na+/Ca2+ (NCX) exchangers and Na+/Ca2+/K+ (NCKX) exchangers in regulation of the ionic homeostasis in neurones are poorly understood. We have previously shown that serotonin excites histaminergic tuberomamillary (TM) neurones by activation of 5-HT2C-receptors and Na+/Ca2+ exchange. With the help of single-cell RT-PCR (sc-RT-PCR) we have now determined the coexpression pattern of different subtypes of NCX and NCKX with serotonin receptors.

Endoneurial capillary abnormalities presage deterioration of glucose tolerance and accompany peripheral neuropathy in man.

To explore whether microangiopathy is associated with disturbed glucose tolerance and peripheral neuropathy, we assessed endoneurial capillary morphology in sural nerve biopsies from men with diabetes, impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and normal glucose tolerance (NGT). Baseline morphology was related to glucose tolerance and neuropathy at baseline and at follow-up 6 years later. Capillary density (in number per millimeters squared) at baseline was higher in subjects with diabetes (n = 10) compared with those with NGT (n = 5) at follow-up (median [interquartile range]) (86.

Quantification of melatonin in human saliva by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry using stable isotope dilution.

A method for the determination of melatonin in human saliva has been developed using high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS-MS). Saliva was collected in plastic tubes. 7-D-Melatonin was added as internal standard and the samples were cleaned and concentrated by solid-phase extraction.

Exposure assessment of monoterpenes and styrene: a comparison of air sampling and biomonitoring.

Background: Within- and between-worker variance components have seldom been reported for both environmental and biological data collected from the same persons.

Aims: To estimate these variance components and their ratio for air contaminants and urinary metabolites in two different work environments and to predict the attenuation of exposure-response relationships based on these measures.

Methods: Parallel measurements of air and urine were performed among workers exposed to monoterpenes in sawmills (urinary metabolite: verbenol) and styrene in reinforced plastics factories (urinary metabolite: mandelic acid).

The effect of dance training on joint mobility, muscle flexibility, speed and agility in young cross-country skiers--a prospective controlled intervention study.

We evaluated a short-term (3 months) and a long-term (8 months) effect of dance training on joint mobility and muscle flexibility of the spine, hip and ankle and on speed and agility in young cross-country skiers. Twenty elite cross-country skiers - aged 12-15 years - participated in the study. Five males and five females received dance training (intervention group) and five males and five females did not dance (reference group).

Taurine-induced long-lasting enhancement of synaptic transmission in mice: role of transporters.

Taurine, a major osmolyte in the brain evokes a long-lasting enhancement (LLETAU) of synaptic transmission in hippocampal and cortico-striatal slices. Hippocampal LLETAU was abolished by the GABA uptake blocker nipecotic acid (NPA) but not by the taurine-uptake inhibitor guanidinoethyl sulphonate (GES). Striatal LLETAU was sensitive to GES but not to NPA.

PGC-1alpha-responsive genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation are coordinately downregulated in human diabetes.

DNA microarrays can be used to identify gene expression changes characteristic of human disease. This is challenging, however, when relevant differences are subtle at the level of individual genes. We introduce an analytical strategy, Gene Set Enrichment Analysis, designed to detect modest but coordinate changes in the expression of groups of functionally related genes.

Nutrition and acute leukemia in adults: relation to remission rate and survival.

Because malnutrition may augment myelotoxicity of antileukemic drugs, we tested whether changes of the nutritional state during first remission induction chemotherapy were related to remission rates and times. Thirty-seven adult patients, average 49 years (range 15-74), with acute leukemia were studied during first remission induction chemotherapy. Weight changes were classified into one of four separate groups, ranging from minimal weight changes to > 10 kg loss.

Visual agnosia in a child with non-lesional occipito-temporal CSWS.

In this paper we describe a case of severe visual agnosia in a child with an electrophysiological pattern of continuous spike-wave discharges in slow sleep (CSWS) in the occipito-temporal regions. The neuropsychological spectrum related to this phenomenon is discussed. Published paediatric reports associate visual agnosia (i.

Mucosal immunisation and adjuvants: a brief overview of recent advances and challenges.

Mucosal immunisation may be used both to prevent mucosal infections through the activation of anti-microbial immunity and to treat selected autoimmune, allergic or infectious-immunopathological disorders through the induction of antigen-specific tolerance. The development of mucosal vaccines, whether for prevention of infectious diseases or for immunotherapy, requires antigen delivery and adjuvant systems that can efficiently help to present vaccine or immunotherapy antigens to the mucosal immune system. Promising advances have recently been made in the design of more efficient mucosal adjuvants based on detoxified bacterial toxin derivatives or CpG motif-containing DNA, and perhaps even more striking progress has been done in the use of virus-like particles as mucosal delivery systems for vaccines and of cholera toxin B subunit as antigen vector for immunotherapeutic tolerance induction.

Purification of native dehydrin from Glycine Max cv., Pisum sativum, and Rosmarinum officinalis by affinity chromatography.

An improved method for the purification of dehydrin from soy (glycine max) is described. Acidic extraction of soy whey was followed by a three step chromatographic process: capture on copper charged Chelating Sepharose Big Beads, intermediate hydrophobic interaction chromatography on Source 15 PHE, and a polishing step on blue Sepharose. The 32-kDa native soy dehydrin was purified to a purity of greater than 98.

Recent developments in mucosal immunomodulatory adjuvants.

A large proportion of pathogens either invade through, or cause disease at mucosal surfaces. Many new generation mucosal vaccine candidates lack important immunostimulatory features of the original pathogens and thus often do not elicit sufficiently strong immune responses. Despite numerous efforts, there is a profound lack of available agents with mucosal immunomodulatory and adjuvant activity.

The ethics of the caring conversation.

The aim of this study was to explore the ethical foundations for a caring The analysis is based on the ethics of Paul Ricoeur and deals with questions such as what kind of person the nurse ought to be and how she or he engages in caring conversations with suffering others. According to Ricoeur, ethics (the aim of an accomplished life) has primacy over morality (the articulation of aims in norms). At the ethical level, self-esteem and autonomy were shown to be essential for a person (nurse) to act with respect and responsibility.

Cholera toxin and its B subunit promote dendritic cell vaccination with different influences on Th1 and Th2 development.

Cholera toxin (CT) is a strong mucosal adjuvant for codelivered antigens, whereas its nontoxic B subunit (CTB) is an efficient mucosal carrier molecule for the generation of immune responses to linked antigens. We investigated the effects of CT and CTB on the immunogenicity of in vitro-treated antigen-pulsed dendritic cells (DC) following intravenous injection into mice. Prior to infusion, DC were pulsed for 90 min with either free ovalbumin (OVA), OVA mixed with CT or CTB, or chemical conjugates of OVA with CT and CTB (OVA-CT and OVA-CTB).

"Between men": patient perceptions and priorities in a rehabilitation program for men with prostate cancer.

The objective of the study is to compare consumer aspects of an informative, a physical, and a combined informative and physical rehabilitation program included in the "Between men" project for newly diagnosed prostate cancer patients. A consecutive series of patients was randomized. Programs were especially developed for prostate cancer patients.

Exposure assessment to alpha- and beta-pinene, delta(3)-carene and wood dust in industrial production of wood pellets.

The main aim of the study was to measure the exposure to monoterpenes (alpha- and beta-pinene and Delta(3)-carene) and wood dust during industrial production of wood pellets and briquettes. Additional aims were to compare the results from wood dust sampled on a filter with real time measurements using a direct reading instrument and to identify peak exposures to dust. Twenty-four men working at six companies involved in industrial production of wood pellets and briquettes participated in the study.

Evaluation of patient records as part of developing a nursing care classification.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the content of nursing care records and the usefulness of the instrument used for their evaluation. The evaluation involved 70 patient records from seven acute special care inpatient units. The evaluation instrument used was based on Phaneuf's Nursing Audit as further developed by Lukander.

Angiostatin and endostatin inhibit endothelial cell migration in response to FGF and VEGF without interfering with specific intracellular signal transduction pathways.

The anti-angiogenic agents angiostatin and endostatin have been shown to affect endothelial cell migration in a number of studies. We have examined the effect of these agents on intracellular signalling pathways known to regulate endothelial cell migration and proliferation/survival. Both agents inhibited fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-mediated migration of primary human microvascular endothelial cells and affected vascular formation in the embryoid body model.

Exposure to benzene, toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons among snowmobile drivers in Sweden.

The exposure to benzene, toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons among 25 individuals exposed to exhaust from a snowmobile equipped with a two-stroke engine has been evaluated. Sampling was performed by pumped and diffusive sampling in parallel. There was a relatively bad agreement between the two air-sampling methods.