Guillain-Barré syndrome after influenza vaccination in adults: a population-based study.

Background: Whether influenza vaccination is associated with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) remains uncertain.

Methods: We conducted 2 studies using population-based health care data from the province of Ontario, Canada. In the first study, we used the self-matched case-series method to explore the temporal association between probable influenza vaccination (adults vaccinated during October and November) and subsequent hospitalization because of GBS.

Proton pump inhibitors and hospitalization for Clostridium difficile-associated disease: a population-based study.

Background: Previous studies have examined the association between proton pump inhibitor (PPI) use and the risk of Clostridium difficile-associated disease (CDAD), with conflicting results. Whether outpatient PPI use influences the risk of hospital admission for CDAD among older patients who have recently been treated with antibiotics is unknown.

Methods: We conducted a population-based, nested case-control study of linked health care databases in Ontario, Canada, from 1 April 2002 through 31 March 2005.

Are broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones more likely to cause Clostridium difficile-associated disease?

Limited evidence suggests that broad-spectrum fluoroquinolones such as gatifloxacin and moxifloxacin are more likely to cause Clostridium difficile-associated disease than levofloxacin. In a population-based case-control study of outpatients prescribed fluoroquinolones, we found no increased risk of C. difficile-associated disease requiring hospitalization among patients prescribed gatifloxacin or moxifloxacin compared to levofloxacin.

Sex-specific expression of alternative transcripts in Drosophila.

Background: Many genes produce multiple transcripts due to alternative splicing or utilization of alternative transcription initiation/termination sites. This 'transcriptome expansion' is thought to increase phenotypic complexity by allowing a single locus to produce several functionally distinct proteins. However, sex, genetic and developmental variation in the representation of alternative transcripts has never been examined systematically.

Late myocardial enhancement assessed by 64-MSCT in reperfused porcine myocardial infarction: diagnostic accuracy of low-dose CT protocols in comparison with magnetic resonance imaging.

The purpose was to assess the practicability of low-dose CT imaging of late enhancement in acute infarction. Following temporary occlusion of the second diagonal branch, seven pigs were studied by multislice computed tomography (MSCT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Thus, 64-slice CT was performed at 3, 5, 10 and 15 min following the injection of contrast medium according to a bolus/low-flow protocol.

Evaluation of various image reconstruction parameters in lower extremity stents using multidetector-row CT angiography: initial findings.

Image quality, visible lumen and patency of lower limb stents was assessed by multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) angiography using various reconstruction parameters and the results compared with conventional angiography. Fourteen patients (25 stents) were evaluated. From MDCT datasets, axial and coronal oblique reformations were reconstructed using differing reconstruction parameters (slice thickness, kernel, views).

Coronary artery bypass grafts: assessment of graft patency and native coronary artery lesions using 16-slice MDCT.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of electrocardiography (ECG)-gated 16-slice multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) in detection of stenosis of bypass grafts and native coronary arteries in patients who have undergone coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). ECG-gated contrast-enhanced MDCT using 12 x 0.75-mm collimation was performed in 20 patients with recurrent angina 4.

Lipopolysaccharide regulated protein expression is only partly impaired in monocytes from patients with type I diabetes.

Background: Monocytes play an important role in innate immunity and atherosclerosis. A disturbed secretion of cytokines in lipopolysaccharide (LPS) activated monocytes from type 1 diabetes (T1D) patients has been described and may contribute to the impaired inflammatory response in these individuals. In the present study the influence of LPS on five different proteins with a function in immunity and atherosclerosis was analyzed in monocytes from controls and T1D patients.

Basal relationships in the Drosophila melanogaster species group.

The Drosophila melanogaster species group is a popular model for evolutionary studies due to its morphological and ecological diversity and its inclusion of the model species D. melanogaster. However, phylogenetic relationships among major lineages within this species group remain controversial.

Outpatient gatifloxacin therapy and dysglycemia in older adults.

Background: Gatifloxacin has been associated with both hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia. We examined dysglycemia-related health outcomes associated with various antibiotics in a population of approximately 1.4 million Ontario, Canada, residents 66 years of age or older.

Turning 65 in Ontario: the impact of public drug benefit coverage on hospitalizations for acute and chronic disease.

Ongoing access to medication is required for the management of many chronic diseases. We sought to examine the health impact of entering the provincial drug benefit plan at age 65 years. We constructed cohorts of same-aged individuals with incident heart failure, with diabetes and from the whole population using administrative data.

Non-invasive coronary angiography with 16-slice spiral computed tomography: image quality in patients with high heart rates.

The purpose of this study was to assess segment image quality at high heart rates using 16-slice computed tomography and differential reconstruction for major coronary vessels. According to the following protocol, 16-slice CT coronary angiography in 46 patients with a mean heart rate of 86.3+/-11.

Evaluation of cardiac function and myocardial viability with 16- and 64-slice multidetector computed tomography.

Retrospectively ECG-gated MDCT shows a high correlation and acceptable agreement of left-ventricular functional parameters compared to MR imaging. Thus, in addition to the non-invasive evaluation of coronary arteries, further important additional information of left-ventricular functional parameters with clinical and prognostic relevance can be achieved by one single MDCT examination. For assessment of myocardial viability, low-dose CT late enhancement scanning is feasible, and preliminary results look promising.

Detection of pulmonary embolism using 16-slice multidetector-row computed tomography: evaluation of different image reconstruction parameters.

Objective: To compare different image reconstruction parameters for detecting emboli of the pulmonary arteries according to anatomic levels using 16-slice multidetector-row computed tomography in patients suspected of having an acute pulmonary embolism (PE).

Methods: Sixty-two patients (33 male and 29 female) with a clinically suspected acute PE were included in the present study. Multidetector-row computed tomography scans were performed using 16-mmx0.

First performance evaluation of a dual-source CT (DSCT) system.

We present a performance evaluation of a recently introduced dual-source computed tomography (DSCT) system equipped with two X-ray tubes and two corresponding detectors, mounted onto the rotating gantry with an angular offset of 90 degrees . We introduce the system concept and derive its consequences and potential benefits for electrocardiograph [corrected] (ECG)-controlled cardiac CT and for general radiology applications. We evaluate both temporal and spatial resolution by means of phantom scans.

Interspecific divergence, intrachromosomal recombination, and phylogenetic utility of Y-chromosomal genes in Drosophila.

Reconstruction of phylogenetic relationships among recently diverged species is complicated by three general problems: segregation of polymorphisms that pre-date species divergence, gene flow during and after speciation, and intra-locus recombination. In light of these difficulties, the Y chromosome offers several important advantages over other genomic regions as a source of phylogenetic information. These advantages include the absence of recombination, rapid coalescence, and reduced opportunity for interspecific introgression due to hybrid male sterility.

Non-invasive evaluation of coronary artery bypass grafts using 16-row multi-slice computed tomography with 188 ms temporal resolution.

Background: Cardiac multi-slice computed tomography (MSCT) scanners permit visualization of the coronary arteries and coronary artery bypass grafts. The latest MSCT generation with true 16-detector slices (Sensation 16 Speed 4 D, Siemens, Forchheim, Germany) provides improved temporal and spatial resolution, as well as significantly reduced scan time. To assess, whether this technical improvement has also an impact on image quality and accuracy of MSCT diagnosis in patients with previous coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery the following study was conducted.

Antidepressants, warfarin, and the risk of hemorrhage.

Background: Case reports suggest that some selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors can interact with warfarin to increase the likelihood of bleeding. We speculated that, among patients receiving warfarin, initiation of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment would be associated with an increased risk of hospitalization for upper gastrointestinal tract bleeding (UGIB).

Methods: We conducted a population-based, nested, case-control study involving Ontario residents 66 years or older continuously treated with warfarin for at least 1 year.

Image quality and diagnostic accuracy of 16-slice multidetector computed tomography for the detection of coronary artery disease in obese patients.

Background: Cardiac multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) scanners permit visualization of the coronary arteries with an overall good sensitivity (sens) and specificity (spec). However, in obese patients (pts), who are at higher risk to develop coronary artery disease (CAD), image quality of MSCT is supposed to be limited. At present, there are no data whether the accuracy of MSCT depends on the body mass index (BMI).

Image quality and diagnostic accuracy of 16-slice multidetector spiral computed tomography for the detection of coronary artery disease in elderly patients.

Objectives: To determine the image quality and diagnostic accuracy of cardiac multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) in elderly patients (>65 years old) in comparison to younger patients, this retrospective analysis was performed.

Methods: The catheter-controlled MSCT results from patients older than 65 years of age were compared with the results of younger patients in a cohort of 117 patients with regard to sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and image quality. Fifty-three patients were older than 65 years of age (group 1: 31 men, age range: 72.

Sex- and segment-specific modulation of gene expression profiles in Drosophila.

Homeotic and sex-determining genes control a wide range of morphological traits by regulating the expression of different target genes in different tissues. The identity of most of these target genes remains unknown, and it is not even clear what fraction of the genome is regulated in a segment- and sex-specific manner. In this report, we examine segment- and sex-specific gene expression in Drosophila pupal legs.

Technology insight: possible applications of multislice computed tomography in clinical cardiology.

With the introduction of four-slice scanners in 1999, multislice CT (MSCT) technology became available for investigative examination of the heart. Since then, MSCT technology has undergone rapid technical progress; temporal and spatial resolutions have been especially improved. The improved diagnostic image quality has led to more possible uses of MSCT being defined.