Reduction of the spin-orbit splittings at the n = 28 shell closure.

The N = 28 shell closure has been investigated via the 46Ar(d,p)47Ar transfer reaction in inverse kinematics. Energies and spectroscopic factors of the neutron p(3/2), p(1/2), and f(5/2) states in 47Ar were determined and compared to those of the 49Ca isotone. We deduced a reduction of the N = 28 gap by 330(90) keV and spin-orbit weakenings of approximately 10(2) and 45(10)% for the f and p states, respectively.

Diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in severe sepsis and septic shock.

Rationale: Diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency in critically ill patients has relied on random or cosyntropin-stimulated cortisol levels, and has not been corroborated by a more accurate diagnostic standard.

Objective: We used the overnight metyrapone stimulation test to investigate the diagnostic value of the standard cosyntropin stimulation test, and the prevalence of sepsis-associated adrenal insufficiency.

Methods: This was an inception cohort study.

Evidence of a marked 25-hydroxyvitamin D deficiency in patients with congenital ichthyosis.

Background: Vitamin D is essential for bone mineralization, and its deficiency may be the cause of skeletal fractures and osteomalacia. Geographical or ethnic factors may modulate the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D. We hypothesized that major changes in keratinization may similarly alter the cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D.

A very high incidence of low 25 hydroxy-vitamin D serum concentration in a French population of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Since the demonstration that vitamin D status might influence the clinical and biological expression of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), a serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25-OHD) concentration of 50 nmol/l has been considered by an expert panel as the minimum level to be maintained in asymptomatic PHPT patients. Two yr after this recommendation, we aimed to evaluate the frequency of serum 25-OHD concentrations below this threshold in PHPT patients. In the present study, serum 25-OHD, second- and third-generation PTH, calcium, phosphate, magnesium, albumin and creatinine were measured in 72 out 145 consecutive PHPT patients operated on in our Endocrine Surgery Department, in whom blood samples were available before as well as two days after surgical intervention.

Enhanced core polarization in (70)Ni and (74)Zn.

The reduced transition probabilities B(E2;0(+) --> 2(+)(1)) of the neutron-rich (74)Zn and (70)Ni nuclei have been measured by Coulomb excitation in a (208)Pb target at intermediate energy. These nuclei have been produced at Grand Accélérateur National d'Ions Lourds via interactions of a 60A MeV (76)Ge beam with a Be target. The B(E2) value for (70)Ni(42) is unexpectedly large, which indicates that neutrons added above N=40 strongly polarize the Z=28 proton core.

HIV in East London: ethnicity, gender and risk. Design and methods.

Background: While men who have sex with men remain the group at greatest risk of acquiring HIV infection in the UK, the number of new diagnoses among heterosexuals has risen steadily over the last five years. In the UK, three-quarters of heterosexual men and women diagnosed with HIV in 2004 probably acquired their infection in Africa. This changing epidemiological pattern is particularly pronounced in East London because of its ethnically diverse population.

Incidence of severe reproductive tract complications associated with diagnosed genital chlamydial infection: the Uppsala Women's Cohort Study.

Objective: To estimate the cumulative incidence of severe complications associated with genital chlamydia infection in the general female population.

Methods: The Uppsala Women's Cohort Study was a retrospective population based cohort study in Sweden, linking laboratory, hospital, and population registers. We estimated the cumulative incidence of hospital diagnosed pelvic inflammatory disease, ectopic pregnancy, and infertility, and used multivariable regression models to estimate hazard ratios according to screening status.

Quantifying leukocytes in first catch urine provides new insights into our understanding of symptomatic and asymptomatic urethritis.

We quantitatively investigated inflammatory cells in the male urethra. Leukocytes in the first catch urine (FCU) from 87 men with and without urethritis were quantitated using haemocytometer counts and stained with an anti-CD45 pan-leukocyte antibody. An increased number of leukocytes in FCU specimens was associated with urethritis (P > 0.

Intelligent classification of electrocardiogram (ECG) signal using extended Kalman Filter (EKF) based neuro fuzzy system.

This study presents the development of a hybrid system consisting of an ensemble of Extended Kalman Filter (EKF) based Multi Layer Perceptron Network (MLPN) and a one-pass learning Fuzzy Inference System using Look-up Table Scheme for the recognition of electrocardiogram (ECG) signals. This system can distinguish various types of abnormal ECG signals such as Ventricular Premature Cycle (VPC), T wave inversion (TINV), ST segment depression (STDP), and Supraventricular Tachycardia (SVT) from normal sinus rhythm (NSR) ECG signal.

Unexpected serum parathyroid hormone profiles in some patients with primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Third-generation parathyroid hormone (PTH) assays have been reported to measure only intact PTH(1-84), in contrast to second-generation assays, which also detect PTH(7-84) fragments. Higher PTH measurements were observed with third- than with second-generation PTH assays in a few patients with either severe primary hyperparathyroidism or parathyroid carcinoma.

Methods: We analyzed biological data [second- and third-generation PTH assays, 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD), calcium, and phosphate concentrations] obtained before and after surgery for 2 groups of patients selected from a large series of consecutive patients with primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT): 7 female patients with surgically and histologically confirmed PHPT (group 1) and a matched group (group 2).

Opportunistic and systematic screening for chlamydia: a study of consultations by young adults in general practice.

Background: Opportunistic screening for genital chlamydia infection is being introduced in England, but evidence for the effectiveness of this approach is lacking. There are insufficient data about young peoples' use of primary care services to determine the potential coverage of opportunistic screening in comparison with a systematic population-based approach.

Aim: To estimate use of primary care services by young men and women; to compare potential coverage of opportunistic chlamydia screening with a systematic postal approach.

Hyperglycaemia acutely decreases circulating dehydroepiandrosterone levels in healthy men.

Objective: This study was conducted in order to evaluate the effect of glucose-insulin homeostasis on adrenal steroids and was designed to separate the effects of hyperglycaemia from those of insulin.

Design: Eight healthy men aged 22.6 +/- 3.

Serum bioavailable testosterone: assayed or calculated?

Background: Bioavailable testosterone (BT), circulating testosterone not bound to sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG), is thought to easily penetrate cells. We compared BT measurements obtained by assays with those obtained by calculation with different testosterone association constants.

Methods: We obtained sera from 2 groups of hypogonadal men [group 1 (G1), 1421 samples; group 2 (G2), 170 samples] and a group of healthy men [group 3 (G3), 109 samples].

Third- or second-generation parathyroid hormone assays: a remaining debate in the diagnosis of primary hyperparathyroidism.

Background: Since the demonstration that the second-generation PTH assays, also called intact PTH assays, recognize a non-1-84 PTH fragment in addition to the intact 1-84 PTH, new PTH assays defined as third-generation assays have been commercialized. Two previous studies aimed at evaluating whether these third-generation PTH assays improved the diagnostic sensitivity for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT), but they yielded opposite results.

Methods: In the present study we compared two second-generation PTH assays (the total intact PTH assay from Scantibodies Laboratory, Inc.

Metagenomic analysis reveals diverse polyketide synthase gene clusters in microorganisms associated with the marine sponge Discodermia dissoluta.

Sponge-associated bacteria are thought to produce many novel bioactive compounds, including polyketides. PCR amplification of ketosynthase domains of type I modular polyketide synthases (PKS) from the microbial community of the marine sponge Discodermia dissoluta revealed great diversity and a novel group of sponge-specific PKS ketosynthase domains. Metagenomic libraries totaling more than four gigabases of bacterial genomes associated with this sponge were screened for type I modular PKS gene clusters.

A novel dengue fever (DF) and dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF) analysis using artificial neural network (ANN).

Dengue fever (DF) is an acute febrile viral disease frequently presented with headache, bone or joint and muscular pains, and rash. A significant percentage of DF patients develop a more severe form of disease, known as dengue haemorrhagic fever (DHF). DHF is the complication of DF.

Childhood primary parotid non-Hodgkin's lymphoma with direct intracranial extension: a case report.

Childhood primary parotid non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) is a rare but well-recognized entity in the literature. Perineural extension of masses between the head and neck and cranium, although rare, has also been well documented. We report the first documented case, to our knowledge, of a left-sided primary parotid NHL in a child with direct intracranial extension through the foramen rotundum.

Anaphylatoxin signaling in human neutrophils. A key role for sphingosine kinase.

Anaphylatoxins activate immune cells to trigger the release of proinflammatory mediators that can lead to the pathology of several immune-inflammatory diseases. However, the intracellular signaling pathways triggered by anaphylatoxins are not well understood. Here we report for the first time that sphingosine kinase (SPHK) plays a key role in C5a-triggered signaling, leading to physiological responses of human neutrophils.

Antisense knockdown of sphingosine kinase 1 in human macrophages inhibits C5a receptor-dependent signal transduction, Ca2+ signals, enzyme release, cytokine production, and chemotaxis.

The anaphylatoxin C5a is produced following the activation of the complement system and is associated with a variety of pathologies, including septic shock and adult respiratory distress syndrome, and with immune complex-dependent diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. C5a has been shown to regulate inflammatory functions by interacting with its receptor, C5aR, which belong to the rhodopsin family of seven-transmembrane GPCRs. However, the intracellular signaling pathways triggered by C5aR on immune-effector cells are not well understood.

Modeling of hemoglobin in dengue fever and dengue hemorrhagic fever using bioelectrical impedance.

This paper describes a model for predicting hemoglobin (Hb) by using bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) in dengue patients in the Hospital Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (HUKM). Bioelectrical impedance measurements were conducted on 83 (47 males and 36 females) serologically confirmed dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) patients during their hospitalization. The predictive equation for Hb was derived using multivariate analysis.

Dislocation dynamics in an anisotropic stripe pattern.

The dynamics of dislocations confined to grain boundaries in a striped system are studied using electroconvection in the nematic liquid crystal N4. In electroconvection, a striped pattern of convection rolls forms for sufficiently high driving voltages. We consider the case of a rapid change in the voltage that takes the system from a uniform state to a state consisting of striped domains with two different wave vectors.