Staphylococcus aureus sigma B-dependent emergence of small-colony variants and biofilm production following exposure to Pseudomonas aeruginosa 4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline-N-oxide.

Background: Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa are often found together in the airways of cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. It was previously shown that the P. aeruginosa exoproduct 4-hydroxy-2-heptylquinoline-N-oxide (HQNO) suppresses the growth of S.

Factors that impact the duration of MRI-guided core needle biopsy.

Objective: The purpose of our study was to determine which patient-related, target lesion-related, or procedure-related variables impact the duration of MRI-guided core needle breast biopsy.

Materials And Methods: Between July 11, 2006, and September 26, 2007, data were collected for 75 single-target MRI-guided 9-gauge vacuum-assisted core needle biopsy procedures using a grid-guidance technique and performed at a single institution. The following variables were studied: MRI suite occupation time, number of operators, patient age and breast size, target morphology and location, approach to target, equipment used, number of image acquisitions and times the patient was moved in and out of the closed magnet, and occurrence of complications.

A novel decalcification method for adult rodent bone for histological analysis of peripheral-central nervous system connections.

Histological analysis of bone encased tissue is severely hampered by technical difficulties associated with sectioning calcified tissue. Cryosectioning of bone is possible but requires significant technical adaptation and expensive materials and is often time-consuming. Some decalcifying reagents in common use result in successful cryosectioning in less time but the integrity of the soft tissue of the spinal column is often compromised during processing.

Examining the roles of cannabinoids in pain and other therapeutic indications: a review.

Importance Of The Field: In recent times, our knowledge of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system has greatly advanced. With expanding knowledge, synthetic cannabinoids - including nabilone, dronabinol and a combination of synthetic Delta9-THC and cannabidiol - have been developed and tested for benefit in a variety of therapeutic indications.

Areas Covered In This Review: The aim of this article is to provide a summative review of the vast amount of clinical trial data now available on these agents.

Viral pathogens including human metapneumovirus are the primary cause of febrile respiratory illness in HIV-infected adults receiving antiretroviral therapy.

To determine the spectrum of pathogens causing acute febrile respiratory illness in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected adults, we re-analyzed data from a prospective surveillance study involving 50 outpatients (90% of whom received highly active antiretroviral therapy). Nasopharyngeal samples were tested for 23 respiratory viruses by multiplex reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and for atypical bacteria by PCR. Sputum cultures and serological testing were performed.

Specific immobilization of influenza A virus on GaAs (001) surface.

In the quest for the development of an all-optical biosensor for rapid detection and typing of viral pathogens, we investigate biosensing architectures that take advantage of strong photoluminescence emission from III-V quantum semiconductors (QS). One of the key elements in the development of such a biosensor is the ability to attach various analytes to GaAs--a material of choice for capping III-V QS of our interest. We report on the study of biofunctionalization of GaAs (001) with polyethylene-glycol (PEG) thiols and the successful immobilization of influenza A virus.

Thermotolerant coliforms are not a good surrogate for Campylobacter spp. in environmental water.

This study aimed to assess the importance of quantitatively detecting Campylobacter spp. in environmental surface water. The prevalence and the quantity of Campylobacter spp.

Experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis-induced upregulation of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the dorsal root ganglia.

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic, neurological disease characterized by targeted destruction of central nervous system (CNS) myelin. The autoimmune theory is the most widely accepted explanation of disease pathology. Circulating Th(1) cells become activated by exposure to CNS-specific antigens such as myelin basic protein.

Anesthetic implications of acute methylenedioxymethamphetamine intoxication in a patient with traumatic intracerebral hemorrhage.

The use of the street drug methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), commonly referred to as ecstasy, has become increasingly prevalent amongst teenagers and young adults in the United States and many other parts of the world. While most anesthesiologists are facile with the intricacies of managing patients intoxicated by alcohol, cocaine and narcotics the new "club" drugs present a challenge, especially under emergency conditions. MDMA, in particular, is the most commonly abused club drug and potentially one of the most dangerous in the perioperative period.

Modern strategies for the anesthetic management of the patient with diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is an endocrine disease with high incidence. Long-term complications involve the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and blood vessels, resulting in hypertension, cardiac ischemia, atherosclerosis, and renal failure, among other syndromes. Given this prevalence, anesthesiologists, especially those who work with older patients, may expect to encounter some aspect of diabetes almost every day.

Current perioperative management of the patient with HIV.

Although modem medical care and current therapies save and prolong the lives of many patients with HIV/AIDS, the disease process has no cure and will continue to present itself during the perioperative period. All ages, young and old, may present with the pathology and, therefore, the anesthesiologist must have sound knowledge of the disease, treatment, complications, and multiorgan manifestations. It will be necessary to review the current treatment modalities for HIV as pharmacologic strategies are ever evolving with this disease process.

Predominance of hepatitis C virus genotype 4 infection and rapid transmission between 1935 and 1965 in the Central African Republic.

The molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus (HCV) in the Central African Republic (CAR) is poorly documented. Thus, we conducted phylogenetic analyses of NS5B gene sequences from 58 HCV-infected inhabitants of a remote area of south-west CAR, which indicated that 48 (82.8%) were infected with genotype 4 (HCV-4), five (8.

Impact of acyclovir on genital and plasma HIV-1 RNA, genital herpes simplex virus type 2 DNA, and ulcer healing among HIV-1-infected African women with herpes ulcers: a randomized placebo-controlled trial.

Background: Little is known about the impact of episodic treatment of herpes on human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1).

Methods: Women from Ghana and the Central African Republic who had genital ulcers were enrolled in a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of acyclovir plus antibacterials and were monitored for 28 days. Ulcer etiologies and detection of lesional HIV-1 RNA were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Toxic effect of blood components on perinatal rat subventricular zone cells and oligodendrocyte precursor cell proliferation, differentiation and migration in culture.

The germinal matrix of human brain gives rise to oligodendrocytes and astrocytes after mid-gestation. Hemorrhage in the germinal matrix of premature infants is associated with suppressed cell proliferation. We hypothesize that soluble blood constituents have an adverse effect on the proliferation of cultured rat subventricular zone (SVZ) cells and the proliferation, migration, and differentiation of oligodendrocyte progenitor cells (OPC).

Phylogeography and molecular epidemiology of hepatitis C virus genotype 2 in Africa.

Understanding the origin and nature of hepatitis C virus (HCV) genetic diversity is critical for improving treatment and vaccine design, and such diversity is the sole source of information about the virus' epidemic history prior to its identification 20 years ago. In this paper, we study the molecular epidemiology of HCV genotype 2 in its region of endemic origin, west and central Africa. Our analysis includes 56 new and highly diverse HCV isolates sampled from infected individuals in Guinea-Bissau.

Charles Bonnet syndrome: three cases in the emergency department.

Background: Charles Bonnet Syndrome (CBS) is a cause of visual hallucinations in elderly patients that is often unrecognized by emergency physicians and has a relatively benign course. As the population ages, it is likely that the number of cases of CBS will increase (and thus, the numbers of those who present to an Emergency Department [ED] will be increasing).

Objectives: The case reports presented in this article will facilitate the recognition of CBS by the emergency physician.