An approach for measuring methane emissions from whole farms.

Estimates of enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants are typically measured by confining animals in large chambers, using head hoods or masks, or by a ratiometric technique involving sampling respired air of the animal. These techniques are not appropriate to evaluate large-scale farm emissions and the variability between farms that may be partly attributed to different farm management. This study describes the application of an inverse-dispersion technique to calculate farm emissions in a controlled tracer-release experiment.

[Spontaneous rupture of a choledochal cyst in a 11-month-old girl].

Choledochal cysts are rare congenital malformations of the biliary tract. Though most cysts are diagnosed incidentally, some present directly with complications. We report on the case of an 11-month-old girl admitted for abdominal pain, fever and vomiting.

Glomus tumor of the mesocolon.

Glomus tumors are rare distinctive benign neoplasms, which arise from modified smooth muscle cells of the normal glomus body and are most commonly located in the subungual region of the finger. Intraabdominal locations are relatively rare. We report a case of glomus tumor of the mesocolon in a 10-year-old girl.

The class II phosphoinositide 3-kinase PI3K-C2beta regulates cell migration by a PtdIns3P dependent mechanism.

The biological and pathophysiological significance of class II phosphoinositide 3-kinase enzyme expression currently remains unclear. Using an in vitro scrape wound assay and time-lapse video microscopy, we demonstrate that cell motility is increased in cultures expressing recombinant PI3K-C2beta enzyme. In addition, overexpression of PI3K-C2beta transiently decreased cell adhesion, stimulated the formation of cytoplasmic processes, and decreased the rate of cell proliferation.

Overview of recruitment for the osteoporotic fractures in men study (MrOS).

Large, long term research studies present recruitment challenges that can be met with collaborative approaches to identify and enroll participants. The Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Study (MrOS), a multi-center observational study designed to determine risk factors for osteoporosis, fractures and prostate cancer in older men, recruited 5995 participants over a 25-month period. Enrolling a cohort that represented the race and age distribution of each community, and developing interest in an older male cohort about a condition commonly thought of as a "women's disease," were major recruitment challenges.

Illness beliefs of patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) and their relation to emotional distress.

Background And Aims: Intestinal failure (IF) is likely to be the source of significant emotional distress for patients; however, little is known about the system of beliefs held by patients on home parenteral nutrition (HPN) that may underpin such distress. The present study aimed to: (1) examine the 'common-sense' representation of IF in patients on HPN; (2) investigate whether there were any differences in such representations with regard to primary diagnosis, clinical history or aspects of treatment; and (3) test the relative importance of psychological, disease and treatment factors in accounting for IF-specific emotional outcome (feelings of anger, upset, anxiety, low mood, and fear).

Methods: Sixty-one patients with IF on HPN completed an assessment of their beliefs about causes of their condition, consequences, symptoms experienced, personal and treatment control, chronicity and recurrence, and emotional representations (feelings of anger, upset, anxiety, low mood, and fear).

Effect of verocytotoxins (Shiga-like toxins) on human neutrophils in vitro.

Neutrophil activation occurs in diarrhoea-associated HUS and correlates with disease severity, implying a role in pathogenesis. Verocytotoxin (Shiga-like toxin) has been shown to stimulate endothelium to release chemokines and express leukocyte adhesion molecules that would lead to indirect neutrophil-endothelial interaction. A direct action of verocytotoxin (VT) on neutrophils has been proposed, although in vitro studies of this are controversial.

Using negative pressure therapy for healing of a sternal wound.

Lisa Clubley and Lorraine Harper examine the treatment provided to a patient who had cardiac surgery and developed complications that resulted in the development of an extensive open sternal wound. The consultant surgeon responsible for the care made a decision to use negative pressure therapy (vacuum-assisted closure) despite such therapy for a wound of this nature being contraindicated in the manufacturer's clinical guidelines

Epigenetic inheritance and the intergenerational transfer of experience.

Currently, behavioral development is thought to result from the interplay among genetic inheritance, congenital characteristics, cultural contexts, and parental practices as they directly impact the individual. Evolutionary ecology points to another contributor, epigenetic inheritance, the transmission to offspring of parental phenotypic responses to environmental challenges-even when the young do not experience the challenges themselves. Genetic inheritance is not altered, gene expression is.

Anti-endothelial cell antibodies from lupus patients bind to apoptotic endothelial cells promoting macrophage phagocytosis but do not induce apoptosis.

Objective: Anti-endothelial cell antibodies (AECA) have been reported to induce apoptosis. We investigated the induction of apoptosis by these autoantibodies and their involvement in the removal of apoptotic cells.

Methods: AECA isolated from patients with active systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) were incubated with human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs).

Inflammatory pseudotumor of the ureter.

Inflammatory myofibroblastic pseudotumors are rare solid tumors found in most soft tissue locations although mainly in the lung. Their etiology is uncertain, and they are generally considered benign although some have a potential for recurrence and dissemination. Recent studies have suggested, however, that some of these tumors are in fact neoplastic processes that harbor chromosomal aberrations similar to those seen in certain lymphomas.

Impairment of lung function, health status and functional capacity in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Objective: To determine the effects of lung involvement on respiratory function in patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis and the relation to impaired health status.

Methods: Thirty patients with ANCA-associated vasculitis in remission (15 with lung involvement at diagnosis as determined by an abnormal chest X-ray) were examined. We measured lung function, skeletal muscle strength [quadriceps force (QF), respiratory muscle strength (Pi(max))], exercise capacity (VO(2) peak) using treadmill exercise tests, and health status using the Short Form 36 and St George's respiratory questionnaires.

ANCA-associated renal vasculitis at the end of the twentieth century--a disease of older patients.

Objective: Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitides are increasingly recognized in older patients. However, it is unknown whether disease presentation and response to treatment differs from younger patients. We aimed to examine the presentation, response to treatment and outcome of patients over 65 yr of age compared with a younger cohort.

Malignancy is increased in ANCA-associated vasculitis.

Objective: In the light of previous reports of an association between malignancy and renal vasculitis, we aimed to investigate the association of malignancy in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, either Wegener's granulomatosis (WG) or microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and compare it with the general population and disease control groups comprising patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Henoch-Schonlein purpura (HSP).

Methods: A retrospective review of 200 consecutive patients with WG or MPA was performed. Malignancies preceding or concurrent with vasculitis were recorded and the incidence of malignancy was compared with those in a population of 129 patients with HSP, 333 patients with SLE and a normal population in the West Midlands of the UK.

A bouquet of chromosomes.

During meiotic prophase, telomeres attach to the inner nuclear envelope and cluster to form the so-called meiotic bouquet. Although this has been observed in almost all organisms studied, its precise function remains elusive. The coincidence of telomere clustering and initiation of chromosome synapsis has led to the hypothesis that the bouquet facilitates homologous chromosome pairing and synapsis.

Nitrogen cycling through swine production systems: ammonia, dinitrogen, and nitrous oxide emissions.

Ammonia (NH(3)) emissions from animal systems have become a primary concern for all of livestock production. The purpose of this research was to establish the relationship of nitrogen (N) emissions to specific components of swine production systems and to determine accurate NH(3) emission factors appropriate for the regional climate, geography, and production systems. Micrometeorological instrumentation and gas sensors were placed over two lagoons in North Carolina during 1997-1999 to obtain information for determining ammonia emissions over extended periods and without interfering with the surrounding climate.

Ammonia volatilization from surface-applied poultry litter under conservation tillage management practices.

Land application of poultry litter can provide essential plant nutrients for crop production, but ammonia (NH(3)) volatilization from the litter can be detrimental to the environment. A multiseason study was conducted to quantify NH(3) volatilization rates from surface-applied poultry litter under no-till and paraplowed conservation tillage managements. Litter was applied to supply 90 to 140 kg N ha(-1).

Thoracoscopic management of postpneumonectomy empyema.

Background: Even when there is no associated bronchopleural fistula, empyema is a serious complication of pneumonectomy. Aggressive surgical treatments are usually applied. However, a minimally invasive approach might achieve satisfactory results in selected patients.

Peritoneal needle suction for intestinal perforation in the preterm neonate.

Unlabelled: A few years ago, most intestinal perforations in the premature newborn appeared within the clinical context of necrotising enterocolitis (NEC). Since then, we have observed an increase in the number of isolated perforations appearing outside typical NEC. The fact that the perforations are more often isolated, and the healing capabilities of the premature intestine, led us to propose peritoneal needle suction (PNS) alone as first treatment for intestinal perforations in the premature neonate.

Propylthiouracil and carbimazole associated-antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in patients with Graves' disease.

Objective: Propylthiouracil treatment of Graves' disease has been postulated to provoke antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis. We aimed to investigate whether carbimazole therapy was also associated with increased risk of ANCA.

Design: The occurrence of ANCA and the relationship to thionamide treatment was investigated in a cross-sectional study in a consecutive series of 407 patients' with Graves' disease, 200 with Hashimoto's thyroiditis and 649 normal euthyroid subjects.

The importance of resolution of inflammation in the pathogenesis of ANCA-associated vasculitis.

The primary small-vessel systemic vasculitides are disorders that target small blood vessels, inducing vessel wall inflammation, and are associated with the development of anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies. Multiple organs are attacked, including the lungs and kidneys. Increasing knowledge of pathogenesis suggests that the antibodies activate neutrophils inappropriately, leading to endothelial and vascular damage.

Integrating genetic linkage maps with pachytene chromosome structure in maize.

Genetic linkage maps reveal the order of markers based on the frequency of recombination between markers during meiosis. Because the rate of recombination varies along chromosomes, it has been difficult to relate linkage maps to chromosome structure. Here we use cytological maps of crossing over based on recombination nodules (RNs) to predict the physical position of genetic markers on each of the 10 chromosomes of maize.

Highly active antiretroviral therapy started in infants under 3 months of age: 72-week follow-up for CD4 cell count, viral load and drug resistance outcome.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and impact of highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART) started in vertically HIV-1-infected infants less than 3 months of age.

Design: A multicentre, phase I/II, non-randomized, open-label study (PENTA 7).

Methods: Adverse events, plasma HIV-1 RNA, CD4 cell counts, CD4 cell percentage (CD4%) and clinical progression were recorded at baseline and prospectively to 72 weeks in order to assess the toxicity, tolerability and efficacy of a combination of stavudine, didanosine and nelfinavir.