Glacial vicariance and secondary contact shape demographic histories in a freshwater mussel species complex.

Characterizing the mechanisms influencing the distribution of genetic variation in aquatic species can be difficult due to the dynamic nature of hydrological landscapes. In North America's Central Highlands, a complex history of glacial dynamics, long-term isolation, and secondary contact have shaped genetic variation in aquatic species. Although the effects of glacial history have been demonstrated in many taxa, responses are often lineage- or species-specific and driven by organismal ecology.

Endothelial Cell Cystathionine γ-Lyase Expression Level Modulates Exercise Capacity, Vascular Function, and Myocardial Ischemia Reperfusion Injury.

Background Hydrogen sulfide (HS) is an important endogenous physiological signaling molecule and exerts protective properties in the cardiovascular system. Cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE), 1 of 3 HS producing enzyme, is predominantly localized in the vascular endothelium. However, the regulation of CSE in vascular endothelium remains incompletely understood.

Clinical utility of chromosomal microarray analysis.

Objective: To test the hypothesis that chromosomal microarray analysis frequently diagnoses conditions that require specific medical follow-up and that referring physicians respond appropriately to abnormal test results.

Methods: A total of 46,298 postnatal patients were tested by chromosomal microarray analysis for a variety of indications, most commonly intellectual disability/developmental delay, congenital anomalies, dysmorphic features, and neurobehavioral problems. The frequency of detection of abnormalities associated with actionable clinical features was tallied, and the rate of physician response to a subset of abnormal tests results was monitored.

A pilot investigation into the effects of different office chairs on spinal angles.

Purpose: To investigate the effects of four office chairs on the postural angles of the lumbopelvic and cervical regions.

Research Question: Which chair(s) produce an "ideal" spinal posture?

Methods: An experimental same subject design was used involving healthy subjects (n = 14) who conducted a typing task whilst sitting on four different office chairs; two "dynamic" chairs (Vari-Kneeler and Swopper), and two static chairs (Saddle and Standard Office with back removed). Data collection was via digital photogrammetry, measuring pelvic and lumbar angles, neck angle and head tilt which were then analysed within MatLab.

NF1 microduplications: identification of seven nonrelated individuals provides further characterization of the phenotype.

Purpose: Neurofibromatosis, type 1 (NF1) is an autosomal dominant disorder caused by mutations of the neurofibromin 1 (NF1) gene at 17q11.2. Approximately 5% of individuals with NF1 have a 1.

Identification of contractile vacuole proteins in Trypanosoma cruzi.

Contractile vacuole complexes are critical components of cell volume regulation and have been shown to have other functional roles in several free-living protists. However, very little is known about the functions of the contractile vacuole complex of the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi, the etiologic agent of Chagas disease, other than a role in osmoregulation. Identification of the protein composition of these organelles is important for understanding their physiological roles.

Severe community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia (CAP) - a potentially fatal illness.

Two cases of severe community-acquired pneumococcal pneumonia (CAP) admitted to our hospital within 24 h are described, both in young males. These two cases illustrate the usefulness of the British Thoracic Society severity criteria and serve to emphasize the importance of early recognition of adverse physiology in critically ill patients. We should not lose sight of the continued impact of pneumonia in this climate of widespread fear about severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS).

Documenting diabetes care: the diabetes nurse specialists' perspective.

Diabetes Nurse Specialists (DNSs) are often the hub of the communications network for the entire diabetes multiprofessional health care team, patients and their families. Frequently they liaise between primary and secondary care and have a key role in the provision of a 'seamless service'. To work effectively and efficiently they need a foolproof system of documentation and communication.

Determination of a diabetes control and complications trial-aligned HbA(1c) reference range in pregnancy.

A diabetes control and complications trial (DCCT)-aligned 95% inter-fractile reference range for glycated haemoglobin in non-diabetic pregnancy was determined as 4.1-5.9% (n=493; two-sided 90% confidence intervals around the lower and upper limits are 4.

Factors modulating cytosolic calcium. Role in lipid metabolism and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Studies in the uremic rat indicate that insulin resistance and glucose intolerance leading to dyslipidemia are associated with a hyperparathyroid-induced increase in cytosolic calcium ([Ca++i]). These alterations are reversed with verapamil, but recur after discontinuation of the drug, suggesting that increased [Ca++i] is responsible for the metabolic derangement. To our knowledge, no similar studies have been conducted in humans.

Lymphocyte cytochrome P450-CYP2E1 expression in human IDDM subjects.

Cytochrome P4502E1, a phase I enzyme, has been shown to be induced in liver samples from diabetic and obese rats. One study demonstrated elevated levels of CYP2E1 in children with IDDM, using Western blot analysis. The aim of this investigation was to determine CYP2E1 expression in peripheral blood lymphocytes from eight well-controlled IDDM and eight sex- and age-matched control subjects using Western blot analysis and Phoretix image analysis.

Pulse oral versus pulse intraperitoneal calcitriol: a comparison of efficacy in the treatment of hyperparathyroidism and renal osteodystrophy in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Controversy exists among various studies in regard to the efficacy of oral (p.o.) versus parenteral calcitriol.

Use of bolus intraperitoneal aminoglycosides for treating peritonitis in end-stage renal disease patients receiving continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis and continuous cycling peritoneal dialysis.

Peritonitis is the most common complication of peritoneal dialysis (PD) and accounts for the most drop-out from PD among patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Antibiotic protocols to treat peritonitis recommend initial treatment for both gram-positive and gram-negative infections, pending culture results. Current literature also suggests comparable therapeutic success using bolus (single-dose) parenteral aminoglycosides to treat systemic gram-negative infections compared to conventional divided-dose aminoglycosides.

Role of intraperitoneal urokinase in acute peritonitis and prevention of catheter loss in peritoneal dialysis patients.

Some studies have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of intraperitoneal (i.p.) urokinase in the resolution of recurrent or relapsing peritonitis, while others have not.

Levels of peripheral blood cell DNA damage in insulin dependent diabetes mellitus human subjects.

Increased production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in vivo can lead to cellular biomolecule damage. Such damage has been suggested to contribute to the pathogenesis of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM). In this study, we used the alkaline comet assay to measure DNA damage (single-stranded DNA breaks and alkali-labile sites) in freshly isolated whole blood, lymphocytes, monocytes, and neutrophils from 23 subjects with IDDM and 32 age- and sex-matched controls.

Very low density lipoprotein subfractions in Type II diabetes mellitus: alterations in composition and susceptibility to oxidation.

Aims/hypothesis: Type II (non-insulin-dependent) diabetes mellitus is associated with raised triglycerides and increased very low density lipoprotein cholesterol. The aim of this study was to assess if very low density lipoprotein subfraction composition and potential to oxidise were altered in this condition.

Methods: Very low density lipoprotein was separated into four subfractions (A-->D) by a novel, rapid ultracentrifugation procedure.

Use of bolus intraperitoneal iron dextran in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis or continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis patients receiving recombinant human erythropoietin.

Impaired erythropoiesis in continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) or continuous cyclic peritoneal dialysis (CCPD) patients receiving recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) is most often secondary to iron deficiency, either as a result of poor intestinal absorption or failure to take oral supplements as prescribed. The inconvenience of giving intravenous (i.v.

Role of Fogarty catheter manipulation in management of migrated, nonfunctional peritoneal dialysis catheters.

Peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter migration to the upper abdomen is not an uncommon cause of catheter failure. We prospectively examined the role of the Fogarty catheter manipulation technique to reposition the PD catheter in the pelvis and regain patency. All patients with PD catheter malfunction caused by migration, confirmed by abdominal radiograph, underwent the same protocol.

Zinc supplementation is associated with improved neurologic recovery rate and visceral protein levels of patients with severe closed head injury.

Sixty-eight patients were entered into a randomized, prospective, double-blinded controlled trial of supplemental zinc versus standard zinc therapy to study the effects of zinc supplementation on neurologic recovery and nutritional/metabolic status after severe closed head injury. One month after injury, the mortality rates in the standard zinc group and the zinc-supplemented group were 26 and 12%, respectively. Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) scores of the zinc-supplemented group exceeded the adjusted mean GCS score of the standard group at day 28 (p = 0.

Individual and group therapies as constructive continuous experiences.

We began this paper with the conceptualization that individual and group psychotherapies were potentially continuous just as internal and external experiences are co-extensive. We recognized Winnicott's "holding," "regression to dependence," and "The primary maternal preoccupation." In our specific context of individual and group therapies, a state of being, a new construct of one's self can be invented in ways that can overturn the received.

Marked improvement in parameters of renal osteodystrophy with the use of intraperitoneal calcitriol.

Parenteral administration of Calcitriol is felt to be superior to oral Calcitriol in the treatment of renal osteodystrophy in chronic renal failure patients. We analyzed the results of serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase, and N-terminal parathormone level which are the clinical parameters of renal osteodystrophy in twenty-three chronic peritoneal dialysis patients who received varying dosages of intraperitoneal Calcitriol. The results which were analyzed at the end of one to twenty-three months revealed significant increase in serum calcium and a significant decrease in the values of alkaline phosphatase and N-terminal parathormone level.

Feasibility of in-center staff-assisted cycler dialysis.

Many debilitated elderly patients are not currently considered for peritoneal dialysis because they cannot perform the procedure themselves and they lack adequate back-up support in the family or extended care facility. They often tolerate hemodialysis poorly, and may exhaust their vascular access sites. We have provided intermittent in-center staff-assisted cycler dialysis to two debilitated elderly patients for a total of 12 patient months.

Cycler dialysis evolution.

Use of automated cycler equipment is currently limited to a fraction of the peritoneal dialysis population. Various technical barriers combined in the past to inhibit its wider application. We have treated forty-seven patients over an eight year period with cycler dialysis, and have observed the evolution of this modality from a treatment of last resort to a first choice therapy for many patients--especially those who work.