Prevalence of anxiety and depression and the association with self-management behaviour in >12 000 patients with inflammatory rheumatic disease: a cross-sectional nationwide study.

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of anxiety and depression among patients with inflammatory arthritis (IA) and evaluate the association of these mental health issues with self-management behaviour.

Methods: In this nationwide cross-sectional study, we analysed data from 12 713 adult Danish patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), psoriatic arthritis (PsA) or spondyloarthritis (SpA). Patients received an electronic questionnaire covering sociodemographics, self-management behaviour and mental health status.

Efficacy and Acceptability of Intermittent Aerobic Exercise on Polysomnography-Measured Sleep in People With Rheumatoid Arthritis With Self-Reported Sleep Disturbance: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: This study's objective was to investigate the efficacy and acceptability of intermittent aerobic exercise training on sleep parameters, fatigue, pain, depressive symptoms, physical function, and cardiorespiratory fitness in people with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods: Thirty-eight people with RA were assigned to intermittent aerobic exercise training (three sessions/week for 6 weeks; intervention group, n = 17) or usual care (control group, n = 21). The primary outcome was a change in polysomnography-assessed sleep efficiency from baseline to the end of the intervention.

Is a Surrogate Pregnancy a High-Risk Pregnancy?

Importance: As assisted reproductive technology has advanced, there has been an increase in gestational carriers/surrogate pregnancies. Information is needed to determine if these pregnancies are high-risk pregnancies and should be managed by maternal fetal medicine or if they are not high risk and should be cared for by residency-trained obstetricians and gynecologists.

Objective: In this review of the literature, we explore whether surrogate pregnancies should be classified as high-risk pregnancies and managed by subspecialists.

Direct assessment of international consistency of standards for ground-level ozone: strategy and implementation toward metrological traceability network in Asia.

An international exercise to directly assess consistency of standards for ground-level ozone in East Asia was conducted as part of the East Asian Regional Experiment 2005 (EAREX 2005) in the framework of the Atmospheric Brown Clouds (ABC) project. Ten organizations collaboratively participated in the intercomparison. Four groups representing Japan, Korea, Hong Kong, and Taiwan made comparisons at the Gosan super observatory, Jeju Island, Korea, in March 2005, with ozone instruments calibrated to their national standards, and four Japanese groups made off-site comparisons with laboratory-level standards.

Serological response to vaccination against avian influenza in zoo-birds using an inactivated H5N9 vaccine.

Five hundred and forty birds in three zoos were vaccinated twice against avian influenza with a 6-week interval using an inactivated H5N9 vaccine. Serological response was evaluated by hemagglutination inhibition test 4-6 weeks following the second vaccine administration. 84% of the birds seroconverted, and 76% developed a titre > or =32.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 7 in pig serum.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) antigen was purified from Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serovar 7 by phenol-water extraction and fractionated on a, S-100 Sephacryl column. High molecular weight fractions of LPS purified from the S-100 column were pooled and used as antigen in an indirect serovar 7 ELISA. The ELISA was evaluated with sera from pigs experimentally infected with 11 different A.

The effects of standing, lifting and noise exposure on preterm birth, growth restriction, and perinatal death in healthy low-risk working military women.

Objective: The effects of standing, lifting and noise in low-risk, healthy pregnant women are uncertain. In the past, the heterogeneity of the populations studied, the limitations of the designs of the retrospective and case control studies, and a failure of some of the larger investigations to evaluate all the potential confounding variables has hampered many studies. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate, throughout pregnancy, the effects of standing, repetitive lifting, and noise in the workplace compared with no standing, lifting or noise exposure, on maternal and perinatal outcomes in a large prospective study of a low-risk healthy population of working women cared for by a single group of health providers.

Amniotic fluid index vs single deepest pocket technique during modified biophysical profile: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the superior technique, if either, of the amniotic fluid index (AFI) vs the single deepest pocket technique in predicting an adverse pregnancy outcome among high-risk patients undergoing antenatal testing.

Study Design: Patients having modified biophysical profile (nonstress test plus sonographic estimation of amniotic fluid) were randomized to either have AFI or determination of the presence or absence of a 2 x 1-cm single deepest pocket.

Results: Between January of 1997 and December of 2001, 1080 women were randomized with 530 women in the AFI arm, and 558 in the 2 x 1 pocket arm.

Development and evaluation of a mixed long-chain lipopolysaccharide based ELISA for serological surveillance of infection with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotypes 2, 6 and 12 in pig herds.

The objective was to develop an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for simultaneous detection of antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap) serotypes 2, 6 and 12. The assay was designated MIX-ELISA. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Ap serotypes 2, 6 and 12 was purified using hot phenol-water extraction followed by fractionation by size-exclusion chromatography.

Longevity of granular iron in groundwater treatment processes: changes in solute transport properties over time.

Although progress has been made toward understanding the surface chemistry of granular iron and the mechanisms through which it attenuates groundwater contaminants, potential long-term changes in the solute transport properties of granular iron media have until now received relatively little attention. As part of column investigations of alterations in the reactivity of granular iron, studies using tritiated water (3H(2)O) as a conservative and non-partitioning tracer were periodically conducted to independently isolate transport-related effects on performance from those more directly related to surface reactivity. Hydraulic residence time distributions (HRTDs) within each of six 39-cm columns exposed to bicarbonate solutions were obtained over the course of 1100 days of operation.

Evaluation of serum and milk ELISAs for paratuberculosis in Danish dairy cattle.

A milk and a serum ELISA for detection of antibodies against Mycobacterium avium ssp. paratuberculosis (MAP) were evaluated against the complement-fixation test (CFT) and culture of faecal samples from 580 cows collected between August 1996 and December 1996. Milk and serum were obtained concurrently from six dairy herds infected with MAP and from two dairy herds without history of infection with MAP.

Longevity of granular iron in groundwater treatment processes: solution composition effects on reduction of organohalides and nitroaromatic compounds.

Although granular iron permeable reactive barriers (PRBs) are increasingly employed to contain subsurface contaminants, information pertaining to system longevity is sparse. The present investigation redresses this situation by examining the long-term effects of carbonate, silica, chloride, and natural organic matter (NOM) on reactivity of Master Builders iron toward organohalides and nitroaromatic contaminants. Six columns were operated for 1100 days (approximately 4500 pore volumes) and five others for 407 days (approximately 1800 pore volumes).

Detection of antibodies to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 12 in pig serum using a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

The objective was to develop a blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for detection of antibodies to Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap) serotype 12 in pig serum. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) from Ap serotype 12 was purified and used as antigen in the assay. Antibodies to the LPS antigen in samples of pig serum were detected by inhibition of the binding of polyclonal rabbit antibodies raised against Ap serotype 12.

Evaluation of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for serological surveillance of infection with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 5 in pig herds.

An indirect enzyme-linked immunoassay for serological surveillance of infection of pigs with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap) serotype 5 was developed. The antigen used was prepared from Ap serotype 5b strain L20. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis showed that the antigen contained high molecular weight lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and presumably also capsular polysaccharide (CP).

Dominant maternal sleep position influences site of placental implantation.

The objective of this study was to determine if maternal sleeping position around the time of implantation influences eventual placental implantation site. Between November 1997 and April 1999, women with singleton pregnancies between gestational ages of 15 and 20 weeks presenting for ultrasound examinations were prospectively queried regarding their usual position of sleep during early gestation. Dominant position of sleep was noted as prone, supine, right side, or left side.

Influence of solution composition and column aging on the reduction of nitroaromatic compounds by zero-valent iron.

Granular iron is used in reactive permeable barriers for the reductive treatment of organic and inorganic groundwater contaminants. The technology is well established, however, its long-term performance and the importance of the groundwater composition are not yet well understood. Here, the influence of chloride, nitrate, silicate, and Aldrich humic acid on the reactivity of Master Builder iron was studied under anoxic conditions using small packed columns and 2-nitrotoluene (2-NT) as a model contaminant.

Blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for detection of antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae serotype 6 in pig serum.

A blocking enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) detecting antibodies against Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap) serotype 6 was developed. The blocking ELISA was based on the inhibition of a polyclonal antibody raised against Ap serotype 6. Purified lipopolysaccharide from Ap serotype 6 was used as antigen.

Serum progesterone testing to predict ectopic pregnancy in symptomatic first-trimester patients.

Study Objective: This study was conducted to prospectively measure the accuracy of serum progesterone levels to detect ectopic pregnancy.

Methods: Seven hundred sixteen symptomatic first-trimester emergency department patients with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding at a tertiary care military teaching hospital had progesterone levels measured by radioimmunoassay with results unavailable to the treating physician. All patients were monitored until a criterion standard diagnosis of intrauterine pregnancy or ectopic pregnancy was confirmed.

History and physical examination to estimate the risk of ectopic pregnancy: validation of a clinical prediction model.

Study Objective: To prospectively validate a clinical prediction model for ectopic pregnancy (EP).

Methods: Prospective cohort with 14-month derivation and 12-month validation phases. All hemodynamically stable, first-trimester patients with abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding who presented to a military teaching hospital emergency department underwent follow-up until an outcome of intrauterine pregnancy (IUP) or EP was established.

Low amniotic fluid volume is poorly identified in singleton and twin pregnancies using the 2 x 2 cm pocket technique of the biophysical profile.

Background: This study was done to determine the accuracy of the 2 x 2 cm pocket identifying low amniotic fluid (AF) volume in singleton and twin pregnancies.

Methods: The AF volume was evaluated by ultrasonography for the presence of a 2 x 2 cm pocket before amniocentesis. The actual AF volume was then determined by a diazo-dye reaction with subsequent spectrophotometric analysis using paraminohippurate.

Risk factors for secondary arrest of labor among women >41 weeks' gestation with an unfavorable cervix undergoing membrane sweeping for cervical ripening.

Objective: To identify the risk factor(s) for secondary arrest of labor among women with an unfavorable cervix at > 41 weeks' gestation.

Methods: Prospectively all gravid women with a Bishop score of < or = 4 and no contraindication to a vaginal delivery were candidates for this study. Univariate analysis followed by logistic regression modeling were used to identify variables with a significant association.

Derivation of a clinical prediction model for the emergency department diagnosis of ectopic pregnancy.

Objective: To derive a clinical prediction model for estimating the pretest probability of ectopic pregnancy in ED patients with first-trimester abdominal pain or vaginal bleeding.

Methods: All hemodynamically stable first-trimester patients presenting to the ED of a tertiary care military teaching hospital over a 14-month period with a chief complaint of abdominal pain and/or vaginal bleeding had clinical data coded prior to determining outcome. They were then followed longitudinally until a criterion standard pregnancy outcome was established.

Do multiple measurements employing different ultrasonic techniques improve the accuracy of amniotic fluid volume assessment?

This investigation was undertaken to determine if the accuracy of the ultrasound assessment of abnormal amniotic fluid volume (oligohydramnios or polyhydramnios) is improved by employing multiple sonographic amniotic fluid measurements. Four ultrasound techniques consisting of the subjective assessment (ultrasonic visualization without measurement), largest vertical pocket, amniotic fluid index and 2-diameter pocket technique were performed followed by amniocentesis and dye-dilution confirmation of amniotic fluid volume in 66 singleton pregnancies. The ultrasound accuracy to detect abnormal amniotic fluid volume ranged from 61% with the largest vertical pocket to 70% with the 2-diameter pocket procedure used separately.

The porcine acute phase response to infection with Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae. Haptoglobin, C-reactive protein, major acute phase protein and serum amyloid A protein are sensitive indicators of infection.

In an experimental infection model mimicking acute Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (Ap) infection in swine (Sus scrofa) by aerosol inoculation, the development of a number of typical clinical signs was accompanied by a prototypic acute phase reaction encompassing fever and an acute phase protein response peaking at around 2 days after infection. Haptoglobin, C-reactive protein (CRP), and major acute phase protein (MAP) responded with large increases in serum levels, preceding the development of specific antibodies by 4-5 days. Serum amyloid A protein (SAA) was also strongly induced.

The accuracy of the summated amniotic fluid index in evaluating amniotic fluid volume in twin pregnancies.

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the accuracy of the summated amniotic fluid index designed to estimate the total amniotic fluid volume in twin pregnancies.

Study Design: The summated amniotic fluid index was measured in 62 normal diamniotic twin pregnancies by adding the deepest vertical pockets in the four quadrants. Actual amniotic fluid volume was then determined in all 124 amniotic sacs by amniocentesis and a dye-dilution technique.