Kinetics of geminate recombination of organic free radicals in viscous solvents.

The kinetics of geminate recombination of multiatomic organic free radicals in glycerol solutions have been investigated. Radicals were produced by ns laser flash photolysis under photoreduction of carbonyl compounds. An external moderate magnetic field decelerates geminate recombination leading to smaller cage effect values.

Characterization of the composition of the aqueous humor and the vitreous body of the eye of the frog Rana temporaria L.

This study aimed to analyze the aqueous humor (AH) and the vitreous body (VB) of the eye of the adult frog Rana temporaria L. as a representative species of amphibians, which lead a semi-terrestrial life. The presence of collagen, albumin, uric acid and electron donors was shown in both media; however, there are slight differences in their concentrations.

The cost-effectiveness of insulin glargine vs. neutral protamine Hagedorn insulin in type 2 diabetes: a focus on health economics.

Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem, in particular because of long-term complications affecting essential organs, such as the eyes and kidneys, which can lead to a reduction in life expectancy and high healthcare costs. The number of individuals with diabetes mellitus is projected to rise worldwide from 171 million people in 2000 to 366 million people in 2030. With the number of patients with diabetes continually growing, the burden of pressure on worldwide health systems is huge.

Alcohol trait and transcriptional genomic analysis of C57BL/6 substrains.

C57BL/6 inbred mice have been widely used as research models; however, widespread demand has led to the creation of several B6 substrains with markedly different phenotypes. In this study, we report that two substrains of C57BL/6 mice, C57BL/6J (B6J) and C57BL/6NCrl (B6C), separated over 50 years ago at two different breeding facilities differ significantly in alcohol consumption and alcohol preference. The genomes of these two substrains are estimated to differ by only 1-2% of all gene loci, providing a unique opportunity to extract particular expression signatures between these substrains that are associated with quantifiable behavioral differences.

The great divide: coordinating cell cycle events during bacterial growth and division.

The relationship between events during the bacterial cell cycle has been the subject of frequent debate. While early models proposed a relatively rigid view in which DNA replication was inextricably coupled to attainment of a specific cell mass, and cell division was triggered by the completion of chromosome replication, more recent data suggest these models were oversimplified. Instead, an intricate set of intersecting, and at times opposing, forces coordinate DNA replication, cell division, and cell growth with one another, thereby ensuring the precise spatial and temporal control of cell cycle events.

Computerised tomography for the detection of pulmonary emboli in intensive care patients--a retrospective cohort study.

Pulmonary emboli are frequently considered as a cause for respiratory deterioration in intensive care unit (ICU) patients, however empirical observation suggests that computerised tomographic (CT) angiography is infrequently positive after the first 24 hours. This study aimed to determine the rate and risk factors for detection of pulmonary emboli by CT angiography in ICU patients. All patients undergoing CT angiography > 24 hours after ICU admission for respiratory deterioration from April 2000 until January 2004 were included.

Graduate education for advanced practice public health nursing: at the crossroads.

The complexity of public health problems and advancement of science framing public health demand an expansion of traditional educational approaches and curriculum to prepare a futuristic advanced practice public health nursing (APPHN) workforce. This position paper sponsored by the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators challenges nurse educators to apply innovative strategies in preparing public health nursing (PHN) professionals and to expand curriculum paradigms to promote PHN's ecological approach to solving problems. To meet the challenges of ensuring public health in the 21st century, advanced practice public health nurses must have greater foundational knowledge in critical content areas discussed in this document.

An evaluation of the effects of conservation and fishery enhancement hatcheries on wild populations of salmon.

The historical, political and scientific aspects of salmon hatchery programmes designed to enhance fishery production, or to recover endangered populations, are reviewed. We start by pointing out that the establishment of hatcheries has been a political response to societal demands for harvest and conservation; given this social context, we then critically examined the levels of activity, the biological risks, and the economic analysis associated with salmon hatchery programmes. A rigorous analysis of the impacts of hatchery programmes was hindered by the lack of standardized data on release sizes and survival rates at all ecological scales, and since hatchery programme objectives are rarely defined, it was also difficult to measure their effectiveness at meeting release objectives.

Toward a hyperstructure taxonomy.

Bacterial cells contain many large, spatially extended assemblies of ions, molecules, and macromolecules, called hyperstructures, that are implicated in functions that range from DNA replication and cell division to chemotaxis and secretion. Interactions between these hyperstructures would create a level of organization intermediate between macromolecules and the cell itself. To explore this level, a taxonomy is needed.

Can the health-care system meet the challenge of pandemic flu? Planning, ethical, and workforce considerations.

The federal pandemic influenza plan predicts that 30% of the population could be infected. The impact of this pandemic would quickly overwhelm the public health and health-care delivery systems in the U.S.

The division inhibitor EzrA contains a seven-residue patch required for maintaining the dynamic nature of the medial FtsZ ring.

The essential cytoskeletal protein FtsZ assembles into a ring-like structure at the nascent division site and serves as a scaffold for the assembly of the prokaryotic division machinery. We previously characterized EzrA as an inhibitor of FtsZ assembly in Bacillus subtilis. EzrA interacts directly with FtsZ to prevent aberrant FtsZ assembly and cytokinesis at cell poles.

Management of visible granulomas following periorbital injection of poly-L-lactic Acid.

Purpose: Injectable poly-L-lactic acid (PLA) is a recently FDA-approved soft-tissue filler. Although approved only for treatment of HIV-associated lipoatrophy, there has been increased interest in its use for cosmetic purposes. Here we describe a case of a granulomatous reaction to injectable PLA in the inferior periorbital region resulting in visible papules and discuss treatment options.

A metabolic sensor governing cell size in bacteria.

Nutrient availability is one of the strongest determinants of cell size. When grown in rich media, single-celled organisms such as yeast and bacteria can be up to twice the size of their slow-growing counterparts. The ability to modulate size in a nutrient-dependent manner requires cells to: (1) detect when they have reached the appropriate mass for a given growth rate and (2) transmit this information to the division apparatus.

Functional taxonomy of bacterial hyperstructures.

The levels of organization that exist in bacteria extend from macromolecules to populations. Evidence that there is also a level of organization intermediate between the macromolecule and the bacterial cell is accumulating. This is the level of hyperstructures.

Risk factors associated with resistance to ciprofloxacin in clinical bacterial isolates from intensive care unit patients.

Objective: To determine risk factors and outcomes associated with ciprofloxacin resistance in clinical bacterial isolates from intensive care unit (ICU) patients.

Design: Prospective cohort study.

Setting: Twenty-bed medical-surgical ICU in a Canadian tertiary care teaching hospital.

Diabetes mellitus and anesthesia.

Diabetes mellitus is an extremely common condition with specific associated comorbidity. Its incidence is rising. Diabetic patients have more perioperative complications than nondiabetic patients.

Changes in body size, abundance, and energy allocation in rockfish assemblages of the northeast Pacific.

Fish body size, a key driver of many aspects of fish population biology and ecology, is affected by fisheries that deplete the largest individuals. Rockfish (genus Sebastes) are a diverse group that has been heavily fished on the U.S.

Shifts in a Pacific ocean fish assemblage: the potential influence of exploitation.

As in many regions of the world, marine fishes and invertebrates along the Pacific coast of the United States have long been subjected to overexploitation. Despite this history, however we lack basic information on the current status of many fishes along this coastline. We used data from a quarter century of fishery-independent, coast-wide trawl surveys to study systematically the demersal fish assemblages along the U.

Injuries associated with teacher assaults: magnitude, nature, cost, and outcome.

The purpose of this retrospective study was to describe the magnitude, nature, and costs of assault injuries among teachers, a high-risk group. Review of assault cases (N = 341) was based on internal and case management vendor records. The 3-year assault rate was 3.

Using life history and persistence criteria to prioritize habitats for management and conservation.

In many marine and terrestrial systems, individuals of a focal species may be found in habitats that are neither essential nor of particular concern for conservation. For example, finding fish in a location does not make that location essential. This recognition begs the question of how one identifies the most important habitats for a particular species.

Matching a graduate curriculum in public/community health nursing to practice competencies: the Rush University experience.

An evidence-based approach to Public/Community Health Nursing (P/CHN) requires that P/CHN educators prepare practitioners with the relevant skills, attitudes, and knowledge. Such education should be competency-based and have measurable outcomes to demonstrate student preparation. In 2003, the Quad Council competencies were developed to be applied at two levels of public health nursing practice: the staff nurse/generalist role and the manager/specialist/consultant role.

Another evolvement of the cost and risk shifting model: consumer-driven health plans.

The US health care system has changed dramatically over the past forty years or so. This paper analyzes its potential transformation into a consumer-driven health care system (with the newly enacted HSAs and the increased popularity of employer defined contributions). The emphasis in the first part is the evolution of the role of providers (mostly physicians) into bearers of financial risk and gatekeepers.

Preoperative characteristics and intraoperative transfusion and vasopressor requirements in patients with low vs. high MELD scores.

Recent changes in organ allocation based on the model for end-stage liver disease (MELD) prioritize the most ill patients on the waiting list for liver transplantation. While patients undergoing liver transplantation in the MELD era are more acutely ill, the impact of the policy changes on perioperative management has not been completely assessed. We retrospectively reviewed the records of 124 primary adult liver transplant patients.