Population dynamics of foxes during restricted-area culling in Britain: Advancing understanding through state-space modelling of culling records.

Lethal control is widely employed to suppress the numbers of target wildlife species within restricted management areas. The success of such measures is expected to vary with local circumstances affecting rates of removal and replacement. There is a need both to evaluate success in individual cases and to understand variability and its causes.

Development of three-dimensional shoulder kinematic and electromyographic exposure variation analysis methodology in violin musicians.

Unlabelled: A total of 11 male and 19 female violinists performed 30-second random-ordered slow and fast musical repertoire while right shoulder three-dimensional kinematic, and upper trapezius and serratus anterior surface electromyography (EMG) data were summarised using exposure variation analysis (EVA), a bivariate distribution of work time spent at categories of signal amplitude, and duration spent at a fixed category of amplitude. Sixty-two per cent of intraclass correlation coefficients [1,1] for all kinematic and EMG variables exceeded 0.75, and 40% of standard error of the measurement results were below 5%, confirming EVA reliability.

Understanding pharmacokinetics to improve tuberculosis treatment outcome.

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains the leading cause of death from a curable infectious disease; drug-resistant TB threatens to dismantle all prior gains in global control. Suboptimal circulating anti-TB drug concentrations can lead to lack of cure and acquired drug resistance.

Areas Covered: This review will introduce pharmacokinetic parameters for key anti-TB drugs, as well as the indications and limitations of measuring these parameters in clinical practice.

Effective Control of Non-Native American Mink by Strategic Trapping in a River Catchment in Mainland Britain.

The introduction of American mink (; hereafter mink) into Europe has had severe impacts on many native wildlife species, including the water vole () in mainland Britain. Although trapping has been widely used to attempt to control mink, managers have little direct evidence of its effect on mink density or distribution, particularly where immigration of mink from nearby areas is inevitable. Such evidence is needed to justify the use of lethal methods in conservation policy.

Piriformis muscle metastasis from a rectal polyp.

Rectal cancers constitute over a quarter of all colorectal cancers. Spread of rectal cancer is usually to liver, lung and brain from high risk rectal cancers. Cases have rarely been reported of spread to soft tissue structures.

Molecular insights into the control of transcription initiation at the Staphylococcus aureus agr operon.

The accessory gene regulatory (agr) operon of the opportunistic human pathogen Staphylococcus aureus is a prime pathogenesis factor in this bacterium. The agr operon consists of two transcription units, RNAII and RNAIII, which are transcribed from divergent promoters, P2 and P3, respectively. RNAII encodes a quorum-sensing system, including AgrA, the master transcription activator of the agr operon.

T7 phage protein Gp2 inhibits the Escherichia coli RNA polymerase by antagonizing stable DNA strand separation near the transcription start site.

Infection of Escherichia coli by the T7 phage leads to rapid and selective inhibition of the host RNA polymerase (RNAP)--a multi-subunit enzyme responsible for gene transcription--by a small ( approximately 7 kDa) phage-encoded protein called Gp2. Gp2 is also a potent inhibitor of E. coli RNAP in vitro.

The association of scapular kinematics and glenohumeral joint pathologies.

Unlabelled: There is a growing body of literature associating abnormal scapular positions and motions, and, to a lesser degree, clavicular kinematics with a variety of shoulder pathologies. The purpose of this manuscript is to (1) review the normal kinematics of the scapula and clavicle during arm elevation, (2) review the evidence for abnormal scapular and clavicular kinematics in glenohumeral joint pathologies, (3) review potential biomechanical implications and mechanisms of these kinematic alterations, and (4) relate these biomechanical factors to considerations in the patient management process for these disorders. There is evidence of scapular kinematic alterations associated with shoulder impingement, rotator cuff tendinopathy, rotator cuff tears, glenohumeral instability, adhesive capsulitis, and stiff shoulders.

Fixed-dose combination of sitagliptin and metformin for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.

Janumet(TM,) a fixed dose combination of sitagliptin/metformin HCL manufactured by Merck Pharmaceuticals, has received US Food and Drug Administration approval for treatment of patients with type 2 diabetes, that are inadequately controlled, either by sitagliptin or metformin alone or together in free-dose combination form. Sitagliptin, an inhibitor of the enzyme DDP-4, assists patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus to achieve glycemic control. It has been shown to be safe and effective at 100 mg daily doses.

Quality-of-life assessment in phase III clinical trials of gemcitabine in non-small-cell lung cancer.

Health-related quality-of-life (QOL) endpoints in clinical trials provide decision makers with a more comprehensive picture of a specific treatment than activity-related endpoints alone. Such endpoints are increasingly being reported in cancer clinical trials. We reviewed phase III clinical trials that involved gemcitabine in the treatment of unresectable non-small-cell lung cancer.

Clinical pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic profile of etoricoxib.

The NSAID etoricoxib is a selective inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase 2 (COX-2), approved for treatment of patients with chronic arthropathies and musculoskeletal and dental pain. The rate of absorption of etoricoxib is moderate when given orally (the maximum plasma drug concentration occurs after approximately 1 hour), and the extent of absorption is similar with oral and intravenous doses. Etoricoxib is extensively protein bound, primarily to plasma albumin, and has an apparent volume of distribution of 120 L in humans.

Janumet: a combination product suitable for use in patients with Type 2 diabetes.

Inhibition of the enzyme dipeptidyl peptidase-4 represents the latest pharmacologic intervention to become available to assist patients with Type 2 diabetes to achieve glycemic control. A combination tablet of sitagliptin (Januvia) and metformin HCl (Glucophage) is now available from Merck (Janumet). The FDA has approved this drug for use in patients who are not adequately controlled by taking either sitagliptin or metformin HCl alone or for patients who are at present taking both simultaneously.

Effect of aviation snip design and task height on upper extremity muscular activity and wrist posture.

Hand tools described as ergonomic in design are intended to reduce exposure to physical risk factors associated with work-related musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, using the right tool for the job is believed to reduce exposure and, consequently, risk of disease. Sheet metal workers frequently use a cutting tool called aviation snips when fabricating and installing ductwork.