The United States National Prospective Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome Study: microbiologic, serologic, clinical, and epidemiologic findings.

The frequency of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) serotypes associated with postdiarrheal hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) cases among children and adults in the United States and the proportion with IgM or IgG lipopolysaccharide antibodies to E. coli O157 were determined by use of a nationwide sample from January 1987 through December 1991. Among 83 patients, STEC were isolated from 30 (43%) of 70 whose stool cultures yielded bacterial growth (25 E.

Carotid endarterectomy based on duplex ultrasound in patients with and without hemispheric symptoms.

Carotid endarterectomy is the most commonly performed vascular procedure. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the efficacy of duplex imaging as the sole diagnostic study for preoperative evaluation of symptomatic and asymptomatic patients who underwent carotid endarterectomy. We conducted a retrospective case series analysis in a community teaching hospital.

Absorbable mesh aids in development of discrete, tissue-engineered constructs.

Absorbable mesh was investigated as a potential containment material in which to house discrete, small, tissue-engineered constructs. The mesh was fashioned into bags of varying shapes and consistent volumes. Cells were cultivated on porous, collagen beads, and the tissue constructs were placed into the bags.

Traumatic carotid artery dissection: a significant incidental finding.

Blunt traumatic carotid artery dissection remains controversial in terms of diagnostic screening, reported incidence, and management. Treatment options include observation, anticoagulation and endovascular stenting, and aggressive surgical repair of the carotid artery injury. Blunt traumatic carotid artery dissections were reviewed through a retrospective study of trauma registry records.

The development and evaluation of a computer-assisted teaching programme for intrapartum fetal monitoring.

Objective: The development and evaluation of a computer-assisted teaching programme of cardiotocography and acid-base balance.

Design: Randomised controlled trial.

Participants: One hundred and seventeen midwifery and obstetric staff at Derriford Hospital, Plymouth.

Targeting adolescent risk-taking behaviors: the contributions of egocentrism and sensation-seeking.

Tremendous resources are spent each year developing programs and messages targeting adolescent risk behavior. Adolescents are often reasonably well educated about methods for health promotion such as preventing HIV infection, yet they fail to act accordingly. One widely used individual difference variable, sensation-seeking, has been incorporated in health message design to some extent, but it fails to take development into account.

Comparative study of seeding methods for three-dimensional polymeric scaffolds.

Development of tissue-engineered devices may be enhanced by combining cells with porous absorbable polymeric scaffolds before implantation. The cells are seeded throughout the scaffolds and allowed to proliferate in vitro for a predetermined amount of time. The distribution of cells throughout the porous material is one critical component determining success or failure of the tissue-engineered device.

Traveler's diarrhea at sea: three outbreaks of waterborne enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli on cruise ships.

Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) has become the leading bacterial cause of gastroenteritis outbreaks on cruise ships. Investigation of recent outbreaks of ETEC gastroenteritis on 3 cruise ships indicated that all were associated with consuming beverages with ice cubes on board the ship (relative risk [RR], 1.4, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.

Most frequently used alternative and complementary therapies and activities by participants in the AMCOA study.

This literature review examines the current state of the scientific evidence published in peer-reviewed journals indexed in MedLine for the 10 most commonly noted alternative activities reported by the first 1,016 eligible participants in the Alternative Medical Care Outcomes in AIDS study. The most frequently used activities are aerobic exercise (64%), prayer (56%), massage (54%), needle acupuncture (48%), mediation (46%), support groups (42%), visualization and imagery (34%), breathing exercises (33%), spiritual activities (33%), and other exercise (33%). Despite frequency of usage, clinical research is not reported on MedLine to support the use of most of these activities for HIV/AIDS.

Reduction of the parahippocampal gyrus and the hippocampus in patients with chronic schizophrenia.

Background: There have been many studies reporting reduced volume of the hippocampus or other limbic structures in patients with schizophrenia, but the literature is inconsistent.

Aims: To compare patients with either first-episode or chronic schizophrenia with controls using high-resolution volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.

Method: Thirteen patients with first-episode schizophrenia, 27 with chronic schizophrenia and 31 controls had 1.

Serial changes in surfactant-associated proteins in lung and serum before and after onset of ARDS.

The goal of this study was to determine the changes that occur in surfactant-associated proteins in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BAL) and serum of patients at risk for ARDS and during the course of ARDS. We found that the concentrations of SP-A and SP-B were low in the BAL of patients at risk for ARDS before the onset of clinically defined lung injury, whereas the concentration of SP-D was normal. In patients with established ARDS, BAL SP-A and SP-B concentrations were low during the entire 14-d observation period, but the median SP-D concentrations remained in the normal range.

Scalp blood gas analysis.

The use of fetal blood sampling has been advocated widely to improve the specificity of fetal heart rate monitoring, but it remains a clinically unpopular procedure. This article considers its physiologic rationale and evidence base. It includes descriptions of the technique with suggestions for improved clinical interpretation and discusses the efficacy of fetal blood sampling with some consideration of possible alternatives.

Botanical medicines with gynecological anticancer activity: a literature review.

This article reviews the existing scientific literature reporting effects of botanical substances on the prevention and treatment of gynecological cancers. Anticancer effects were reported for 14 of 27 herbal substances searched for, 8 of which had reported effects specifically in gynecological cancer models. Research reviewed included in vitro studies in gynecological cancer cell lines, animal studies, an ex vivo study, and an epidemiological study.

Bilateral thalamic infarction in a patient with factor V Leiden mutation.

In a 50-year-old unresponsive man with ophthalmoplegia, bilateral thalamic infarction was detected on magnetic resonance imaging of the brain. A thorough evaluation, including urinalysis, laboratory studies, computed tomography of the brain, chest radiography, lumbar puncture, magnetic resonance angiography, cerebral angiography, carotid ultrasonography, and transesophageal echocardiography, revealed no obvious predisposing factors other than heterozygous factor V Leiden mutation. To our knowledge, this is the first reported case of bilateral thalamic infarction associated with factor V Leiden mutation.

The development of an embedding technique for polylactide sponges.

The use of absorbable polymeric biomaterials is increasing in the field of tissue engineering. These polymeric scaffolds provide mechanical strength and shape as the engineered tissue forms. Histological analysis is an important part of the development of an appropriate polymeric construct, because it allows the analysis of the cell/material interaction.

TESTS OF INBREEDING EFFECTS ON HOST-SHIFT POTENTIAL IN THE PHYTOPHAGOUS BEETLE OPHRAELLA COMMUNA.

Although inbreeding, on average, decreases additive genetic variance, some inbred populations may show an increase in phenotypic variance for some characters. In those populations with increased phenotypic variance, character changes by peak shifts may occur because of the effects of the higher variance on the adaptive landscape. A population's increased phenotypic variance may place it in the domain of attraction of a new adaptive peak or increase the likelihood of a selection-driven peak shift as the landscape of mean fitness flattens.

Diarrhoea prevention in Bolivia through point-of-use water treatment and safe storage: a promising new strategy.

A novel water quality intervention that consists of point-of-use water disinfection, safe storage and community education was field tested in Bolivia. A total of 127 households in two periurban communities were randomized into intervention and control groups, surveyed and the intervention was distributed. Monthly water quality testing and weekly diarrhoea surveillance were conducted.

Parameters affecting cellular adhesion to polylactide films.

Absorbable biomaterials have been recently incorporated into the field of tissue engineering. Little work has been performed, even with the clinically acceptable absorbables, concerning their tissue promoting capability or lack, thereof. Furthermore, the relative attractions of cells to these implants may be largely disguised by the presence of serum.

Femininity, bulimia, and distress in college women.

This study investigated differences in the scores on perceived Distress and Bulimia among college women with varying scores on the Behavioral Self-report of Femininity. Distress was assessed using The Psychological Distress Inventory and Bulimia was measured using the Bulimia Cognitive Distortions Scale. Women who reported low numbers of stereotypic feminine behaviors scored lower on the Bulimia Cognitive Distortions Scale than women reporting moderate to high numbers of stereotypic feminine behaviors.

Continuous hemodialysis for the management of acute renal failure in the presence of cerebellar hemorrhage. Case report.

In this report the authors describe the use of continuous venovenous hemodialysis (CVVHD) in a medically unstable patient who suffered from a spontaneous cerebellar hemorrhage. Conventional dialysis techniques carry the risk of developing the dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) when performed in the presence of a variety of intracranial diseases. The CVVHD technique was used successfully in a morbidly obese, short-statured woman with a spontaneous hypertensive intraparenchymal cerebellar hemorrhage.

Surfactant protein A and surfactant protein D in health and disease.

Surfactant protein (SP) A and SP-D are collagenous glycoproteins with multiple functions in the lung. Both of these proteins are calcium-dependent lectins and are structurally similar to mannose-binding protein and bovine conglutinin. Both form polyvalent multimeric structures for interactions with pathogens, cells, or other molecules.