A qualitative inquiry to explore management of distal radius fracture by certified hand therapists.

Background: Distal radius fractures (DRF) are extremely common in middle-aged and elderly. Certified Hand Therapists (CHT) are experts in managing hand injuries including DRF.

Purpose: Using qualitative methodology, this study examined practice patterns among CHT and understand prevalent common patterns in managing DRF.

A critical appraisal of web-based information on shoulder pain comparing biomedical vs. psychosocial information.

Background: Websites have become a primary way for patients to access health-related information, which allows patients to not only understand their condition better but also to engage in better decision making with their health care provider. However, this can be a double-edged sword, as information patients access may not be of high quality, easily readable, or could be biased based on website authorship. This study examines the readability and content quality of common websites about shoulder pain, with a specific focus on biomedical vs.

Antigen-Specific vs. Neutralizing Antibodies Against Conditioned Media of Patients With Infection: A Prospective Exploratory Study.

The immunological response against is crucial for an improved understanding of disease mechanisms and the development of novel therapeutic strategies. From April 2014 to February 2015, adult patients with infection (CDI) were recruited, and the clinical course and treatment response were carefully monitored. On day 1, 3, and 6 after diagnosis, patient plasma samples were screened for anti-GDH (glutamate dehydrogenase), anti-TcdA, anti-TcdB, and anti-CWP84 (cell-wall protein 84) antibodies by ELISA.

Clinical performance of the H. PYLORI QUIK CHEK™ and H. PYLORI CHEK™ assays, novel stool antigen tests for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori.

Infection with Helicobacter pylori is a global health issue, and rapid and accurate testing is a key to diagnosis. We aimed to assess the performance of two novel enzyme immunoassays (EIA), the H. PYLORI QUIK CHEK™ and the H.

Fecal Lactoferrin and Other Stool Markers during Normal Pregnancy and in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Prospective Study and Review of the Literature.

Introduction: Management of inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs) - both Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC) - during pregnancy can be challenging since most monitoring tools available in nonpregnant patients are contraindicated.

Objectives: The aim of the study was to test whether fecal inflammatory markers - specifically fecal lactoferrin - physiologically change during normal pregnancy as a prerequisite to use them to monitor IBD activity during pregnancy.

Methods: Fecal lactoferrin was tested in healthy pregnant and nonpregnant women from the same geographic area and age range (18-40 years) - all negative for clinical gastrointestinal tract inflammation.

Infection: The Challenge, Tests, and Guidelines.

is a dangerous human pathogen because it can grow to high numbers in the intestine, cause colitis with its potent toxins, and persist as spores. C. infection (CDI) is the primary hospital-acquired infection in North America and Europe, and it now is a global disease.

Assessing Histological Inflammatory Activity in Patients With Ulcerative Colitis: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study Testing Fecal Biomarkers Lactoferrin and Calprotectin.

Background And Aims: Histological remission has arisen as the optimal treatment outcome in ulcerative colitis (UC). The aim of this retrospective study was to explore the diagnostic performance of the noninvasive fecal biomarkers calprotectin (FC) and lactoferrin (FL) compared to the histological indices Nancy Index (NI) and Riley Index (RI).

Methods: This study is a retrospective diagnostic accuracy study based on secondary analysis of patient data from 2002 to 2017 extracted from medical registries of our clinics in Essen-Mitte, Germany.

Comparison of F-FDG PET-MR and fecal biomarkers in the assessment of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Objective: To compare the diagnostic performance of fecal biomarkers and F-fludeoxyglucose (F-FDG) positron emmision tomography-MR (PET-MR) in the assessment of disease activity in patients with ulcerative colitis.

Methods: This study was conducted under the framework of a single-center clinical trial (clinicaltrials.gov [NCT03781284]).

Low glutamate dehydrogenase levels are associated with colonization in Clostridium difficile PCR-only positive patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background/aims: Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) remains a diagnostic challenge in patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). We tested novel biomarkers to differentiate CDI from colonization in patients without (CDI-only) and with IBD (IBD-CDI).

Methods: Samples were enzyme immunoassay (EIA)-tested for glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH) and toxin, followed by reflex PCR.

Fecal lactoferrin accurately reflects mucosal inflammation in inflammatory bowel disease.

Background: Studies have demonstrated a potential role for fecal biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin (FC) and fecal lactoferrin (FL) in monitoring inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) - Crohn's disease (CD) and ulcerative colitis (UC). However, their correlation to endoscopic scores, disease severity and affected intestinal surface has not been extensively investigated.

Aim: To correlate FL, and for comparison white blood cell (WBC) and C-reactive protein (CRP), with endoscopic scores, disease extent and location in CD and UC.

Sexual conflict over remating interval is modulated by the pathway.

Sexual conflict, in which the evolutionary interests of males and females diverge, shapes the evolution of reproductive systems across diverse taxa. Here, we used the fruit fly to study sexual conflict in natural, three-way interactions comprising a female, her current and previous mates. We manipulated the potential for sexual conflict by using () null females and by varying remating from 3 to 48 h, a period during which natural rematings frequently occur.

Rapid change of fecal microbiome and disappearance of Clostridium difficile in a colonized infant after transition from breast milk to cow milk.

Background: Clostridium difficile is the most common known cause of antibiotic-associated diarrhea. Upon the disturbance of gut microbiota by antibiotics, C. difficile establishes growth and releases toxins A and B, which cause tissue damage in the host.

Assessment of Fecal ASCA Measurement as a Biomarker of Crohn Disease in Pediatric Patients.

Objectives: A simple and reliable biomarker for Crohn disease (CD) would be a valuable clinical tool. We hypothesized that anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibody (ASCA) may be present in the stool of patients with CD. Accordingly, we measured ASCA in the stool and serum of children and adolescents with known or suspected inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).

Faecal Lactoferrin, Calprotectin, PMN-elastase, CRP, and White Blood Cell Count as Indicators for Mucosal Healing and Clinical Course of Disease in Patients with Mild to Moderate Ulcerative Colitis: Post Hoc Analysis of a Prospective Clinical Trial.

Objectives: We evaluated the performance of blood and faecal biomarkers for differentiating between endoscopic inflammation and mucosal healing, and clinically active disease and sustained clinical remission, and determined the predictive value for a flare in patients with ulcerative colitis [UC].

Methods: Clinical Activity Index [CAI], faecal lactoferrin [FLA], calprotectin [CAL], PMN-elastase [PMN-e], C-reactive protein [CRP], white blood cells [WBC], Endoscopic Index [EI], and UC-Disease Activity Index [DAI] were determined repeatedly during 12 months and at acute flares.

Results: Of 91 patients [45 female; mean age 48.

Fecal Lactoferrin: Reliable Biomarker for Intestinal Inflammation in Pediatric IBD.

Background. Optimal management of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) requires early diagnosis. Aim of the study is to compare fecal lactoferrin (FL) as biomarker of intestinal inflammation to CRP in pediatric patients with new-onset IBD.

In vivo selection of rifamycin-resistant Clostridium difficile during rifaximin therapy.

We report the selection of Clostridium difficile resistant to the rifamycin class of antibiotics in a patient within 32 h of receiving rifaximin for the treatment of recurrent C. difficile diarrhea. Resistance was associated with single nucleotide substitutions within rpoB.

Utility of fecal and serum anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies in the diagnosis of Crohn's disease-like condition of the pouch.

Background: Fecal antibodies against bacterial products may directly reflect the interaction between luminal bacteria and mucosal immunity, and assays for these antibodies may be clinically useful in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of Crohn's disease-like (CDL) condition of the pouch.

Aims: This study aims to evaluate stool and serum anti-Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) in normal and diseased pouches, to assess the correlation between ASCA levels and endoscopic disease activity, and to ascertain the diagnostic utility of ASCA for CDL of the pouch.

Methods: One hundred eighty-nine patients with ileal pouches were prospectively enrolled and corresponding serum and pouch aspirate samples were collected.

The successful use of low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator for treatment of intracardiac/pulmonary thrombosis during liver transplantation.

Intracardiac thrombosis and pulmonary embolism are uncommon complications during liver transplantation but carry a high mortality rate. We report the successful use of low-dose recombinant tissue plasminogen activator (0.5-4 mg) administration in 4 patients.

A theory of leadership in human cooperative groups.

Two types of models aim to account the origins of rank differentiation and social hierarchy in human societies. Conflict models suggest that the formation of social hierarchies is synonymous with the establishment of relationships of coercive social dominance and exploitation. Voluntary or 'integrative' models, on the other hand, suggest that rank differentiation--the differentiation of leader from follower, ruler from ruled, or state from subject--may sometimes be preferred over more egalitarian social arrangements as a solution to the challenges of life in social groups, such as conflict over resources, coordination failures, and free-riding in cooperative relationships.

Utility of fecal lactoferrin in identifying Crohn disease activity in children.

Objectives: Fecal lactoferrin (FL) is a noninvasive biomarker that is elevated in Crohn disease (CD) compared to irritable bowel syndrome. The purpose of this study was to evaluate FL in identifying children with active versus inactive CD.

Patients And Methods: Fresh stool samples were collected from children with CD scheduled for endoscopy or a clinic visit, and from new outpatients who were scheduled for colonoscopy.

A mating plug protein reduces early female remating in Drosophila melanogaster.

Mating plugs are formed within the female reproductive tract during mating from male ejaculate constituents or even from male genitalia themselves. Across species, mating plugs have roles in sperm storage and the prevention of female remating. In the fruitfly Drosophila melanogaster, accessory gland proteins such as the sex peptide are known to reduce female remating, however this effect can take some time to establish, hence other ejaculate components must also be involved.

Ascitic fluid lactoferrin for diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis.

Background & Aims: The diagnosis of spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) is based on a manual count of ascitic fluid polymorphonuclear cells (PMNs). This procedure is operator-dependent and lysis of PMNs during transport to the laboratory may lead to false-negative results. Furthermore, ascitic fluid culture is insensitive and leads to delays in diagnosis.

Feeding, fecundity and lifespan in female Drosophila melanogaster.

Male seminal fluid proteins induce a profound remodelling of behavioural, physiological and gene signalling pathways in females of many taxa, and typically cause elevated egg production and decreased sexual receptivity. In Drosophila melanogaster, these effects can be mediated by an ejaculate 'sex peptide' (SP), which, in addition, contributes significantly to the cost of mating in females. Recent research has revealed that SP can stimulate female post-copulatory feeding, raising the possibility that the widespread female cost of mating could be due to over-feeding.

Fecal lactoferrin is a sensitive and specific marker of disease activity in children and young adults with inflammatory bowel disease.

Background And Aims: Fecal lactoferrin (FLA) is a neutrophil-derived surrogate marker of intestinal inflammation that is elevated in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. However, the correlation between FLA levels and serological markers of disease activity has not been previously reported, to our knowledge. In the present study we evaluated the ability of FLA levels to reflect disease activity in pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease.

A functioning ovary is not required for sex peptide to reduce receptivity to mating in D. melanogaster.

In many species of invertebrates that mate multiply, mating induces a temporary reduction in sexual receptivity and an increase in the rate of egg laying. These processes often appear to be co-ordinately regulated, and triggered by the passage of seminal fluid components. However, little is known about the mechanisms of the links between these processes.