Gut microbiota wellbeing index predicts overall health in a cohort of 1000 infants.

The human gut microbiota is central in regulating all facets of host physiology, and in early life it is thought to influence the host's immune system and metabolism, affecting long-term health. However, longitudinally monitored cohorts with parallel analysis of faecal samples and health data are scarce. In our observational study we describe the gut microbiota development in the first 2 years of life and create a gut microbiota wellbeing index based on the microbiota development and health data in a cohort of nearly 1000 infants using clustering and trajectory modelling.

Demonstration of a 1 TW peak power, joule-level ultrashort Tm:YLF laser.

We report on the demonstration of a diode-pumped, Tm:YLF-based, chirped pulse amplification laser system operating at λ ≈ 1.9 µm that produces amplified pulse energies exceeding 1.5 J using a single 8-pass power amplifier.

Increasing Knowledge in the Requesting of Clinical Investigations.

Purpose: Overtesting, ordering diagnostic investigations that do not help diagnose or manage a patient, is well-recognized as a problem across multiple healthcare settings in developed countries. One of the reasons often cited for overtesting is a lack of confidence or knowledge, so this article addresses our attempt to reduce overtesting through an investigation-specific course for a physician associate (PA) program based in the United Kingdom. We found no evidence of pedagogical literature that focused on clinical diagnostics teaching and assessment for PAs, so we aim to be the first to provide this research.

Early-life environment and the risk of eczema at 2 years-Meta-analyses of six Finnish birth cohorts.

Background: Urban-related nature exposures are suggested to contribute to the rising prevalence of allergic diseases despite little supporting evidence. Our aim was to evaluate the impact of 12 land cover classes and two greenness indices around homes at birth on the development of doctor-diagnosed eczema by the age of 2 years, and the influence of birth season.

Methods: Data from 5085 children were obtained from six Finnish birth cohorts.

Determinants of bacterial and fungal microbiota in Finnish home dust: Impact of environmental biodiversity, pets, and occupants.

The indoors is where many humans spend most of their time, and are strongly exposed to indoor microbiota, which may have multifaceted effects on health. Therefore, a comprehensive understanding of the determinants of indoor microbiota is necessary. We collected dust samples from 295 homes of families with young children in the Helsinki region of Finland and analyzed the bacterial and fungal composition based on the 16S rRNA and ITS DNA sequences.

Dance for Chronic Pain Conditions: A Systematic Review.

Objectives: Globally, 20-25% of people will experience chronic pain in their lifetimes. Dance is a physical activity with psychosocial benefits that might positively impact pain. This review aimed to investigate the effect of dance interventions on the experience of pain by quantitative measures and qualitative themes.

Fucosylated oligosaccharides in mother's milk alleviate the effects of caesarean birth on infant gut microbiota.

One of the most abundant components in human milk is formed by oligosaccharides, which are poorly digested by the infant. The oligosaccharide composition of breast milk varies between mothers, and is dependent on maternal secretor (FUT2) genotype. Secretor mothers produce milk containing α1-2 fucosylated human milk oligosaccharides, which are absent in the milk of non-secretor mothers.

Autoclave and beta-amylolysis lead to reduced in vitro digestibility of starch.

In this study, a combination of autoclave and beta-amylolysis was used to modulate the digestibility of normal corn starch (NCS) and wheat starch (WS). The modification procedure comprised three cycles of autoclave at 35% moisture content and 121 degrees C, beta-amylolysis, and one additional cycle of autoclave. Starch materials were sampled at each stage and characterized.

Properties of starch subjected to partial gelatinization and beta-amylolysis.

The overall objective of this research is to understand the impact of partial gelatinization and beta-amylase hydrolysis (beta-amylolysis) on the physicochemical properties of starch. Three starches (normal corn, waxy corn, and wheat) were chosen as test examples and thermally treated at 40% moisture content to up to 95 degrees C and then subjected to beta-amylolysis. The enzyme treatment resulted in over 10% maltose yield.

Quality: the new healthcare imperative.

Increasing evidence shows that besides saving lives, quality initiatives can increase volume and market share, shorten hospital stays, and result in fewer complications and readmissions. A look at the American Heart Association's Get With The Guidelines program shows how evidence-based therapies have improved quality and patient outcomes.

Achieving tight glycaemic control.

The implementation of tight glycaemic control (TGC) is becoming accepted best practice within intensive care units throughout the world. It is recommended by the Surviving Sepsis Campaign and is included in the sepsis care bundle. The major impact of TGC is currently thought to be associated with reduced morbidity and mortality.

Antidiabetic activity of passive nonsteroidal glucocorticoid receptor modulators.

Much has been learned about the consequences of glucocorticoid receptor antagonism by studying steroidal active antagonists such as RU-38486 (1). In the liver glucocorticoid receptor antagonism suppresses hepatic glucose production decreasing plasma glucose levels; however, extrahepatic antagonism produces several undesirable side effects including activation of the hypothalamic pituitary adrenal axis. A series of nonsteroidal passive N-(3-dibenzylamino-2-alkyl-phenyl)-methanesulfonamide glucocorticoid receptor modulators was discovered.

Straight talk new approaches in healthcare. The outpatient market: protect important market share.

Hospitals are facing competition from myriad freestanding players in the outpatient market. It's a fight hospitals can't afford to lose because they often use outpatient profits to cover losses in other service lines. Indeed about 60% of the average hospital's operating margin depends on outpatient revenues.

An evaluation of a C-glucuronide as a liver targeting group: conjugate of a glucocorticoid antagonist.

A beta-C-glucuronide conjugate of the glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, Mifepristone 1, was prepared which maintained binding affinity, had modest in vitro activity, and was metabolically more stable than the parent. Pharmacokinetic studies suggest that the conjugate is recognized by the liver like O-glucuronides and may undergo a portion of the enterohepatic recirculation loop.

Straight talk. New approaches in healthcare. Hospital/physician partnerships are key to growth of market share.

Unlabelled: Do you know who your biggest competitor is? It's probably your most loyal physician group. That's because up to 80% of hospitals are competing with their own medical staffs, according to PricewaterhouseCoopers' research. Physicians are launching revenue enhancement and diversification strategies to combat declining reimbursement and respond to the surge in demand for outpatient services.

Spin counting with fast MAS.

A novel magic angle spinning (MAS) multiple-quantum spin counting experiment based on the C7 recoupling sequence of Lee et al. is described. In contrast to previous approaches the new experiment is applicable at fast MAS rates and can be used to follow the multiple-quantum excitation dynamics with fine time resolution.

Brain metastases from unknown primary site.

We report our experience with 32 patients presenting with brain metastasis from unknown origin. This constitutes 11.5 percent of 276 consecutive patients with brain metastasis seen over a period of eight years at the University of Mississippi Medical Center.

Survival of carcinoma of the prostate patients less than 55 years old compared to older patient groups.

Both incidence and death rate from cancer of prostate are rising. Prostate cancer is the most common malignancy in man and second most common cause of death in men. Lung cancer is the leading cause of death in men.

Report of a prospective trial--split course versus conventional radiotherapy in the treatment of non small cell lung cancer.

A prospective randomized trial was started in January 1982, to compare morbidity and survival of two different radiation regimens for the treatment of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). The trial was closed in December 1988. One group of patients was treated by conventional daily radiation therapy, and the other group by split course therapy.

Management of brain metastases: past, present, and future.

Brain metastasis is an important cause of morbidity and mortality in cancer patients. Because most of these patients die of systemic disease, the primary therapeutic goal is to improve the quality of life. Conventional therapy for brain metastases is usually whole-brain irradiation.

Heterogeneity of a major allergen from olive (Olea europea) pollen.

Studies were carried out in order to confirm and extend knowledge of the physico-chemical properties of an allergenic material found in the pollen of the olive tree (Olea europea). The sera from 88% of patients who were sensitive to olive pollen contained IgE that reacted with a 19,000 Mr component and many also reacted to a 17,000 Mr band as shown by SDS-PAGE immunoblotting. A monoclonal antibody (OL-1) produced to the 19,000 Mr component also reacted with the 17,000 Mr band, and with bands at 21,000 and 41,000 under non-reduced conditions.