The MobiSan approach: informal settlements of Cape Town, South Africa.

Pook se Bos informal settlement and the Cape Town Water & Sanitation Services Department are partnering on an urban sanitation project with a Dutch Consortium consisting of Lettinga Associates Foundation (LeAF), Landustrie Sneek and Vitens-Evides International. The aim of the project is to improve the basic sanitation services provided in informal settlements through the implementation of the MobiSan approach. The approach consists of a communal Urine-Diversion and Dehydration Toilet (UDDT) built in a former sea shipping container.

A prospective study of the efficacy of clinical application of a new carrier-bound fibrin sealant after liver resection.

Objective: To examine the effectiveness of fibrin sealants as supportive treatment to improve hemostasis and decrease the incidence of bile leakage and intra-abdominal collections.

Design: Prospective, controlled, quasiexperimental study.

Setting: Tertiary referral center, University Hospital Reina Sofía.

Usefulness of clinical findings, nerve conduction studies and ultrasonography to predict response to surgical release in idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome.

Objectives: To assess the usefulness of clinical findings, nerve conduction studies and ultrasonography performed by a rheumatologist to predict success in patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) undergoing median nerve release.

Methods: Ninety consecutive patients with CTS (112 wrists) completed a specific CTS questionnaire and underwent physical examination and nerve conduction studies. Ultrasound examination was performed by a rheumatologist who was blind to any patient's data.

Reevaluation of the role of duration of morning stiffness in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis activity.

Objective: To evaluate the utility of the duration of morning stiffness (MS), as a patient-reported outcome (PRO), in assessing rheumatoid arthritis (RA) disease activity.

Methods: We acquired information on 5439 patients in QUEST-RA, an international database of patients with RA evaluated by a standard protocol. MS duration was assessed from time of waking to time of maximal improvement.

Establishment of a pediatric liver transplantation program: experience with 100 transplantation procedures.

Objective: To analyze the primary factors that influence the development and consolidation of a pediatric liver transplantation program.

Patients And Methods: This was a retrospective study of 100 liver transplantation procedures performed in 84 pediatric patients between May 1990 and November 2007. The male-female ratio was 40:60.

Factors involved in the progress of preclinical atherosclerosis associated with systemic lupus erythematosus: a 2-year longitudinal study.

Objectives: To assess the changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and the associated risks factors in patients with low severity systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Methods: Common carotid IMT measurements were obtained by ultrasound from 101 patients with SLE at an interval of 2 years. Cardiovascular risk factors, disease activity, accumulated damage, severity (Katz index) and biochemical parameters (including high sensitivity C-reactive protein, interleukin 6, C3a, C4a, C5a and homocysteine) were also assessed.

Disparities in rheumatoid arthritis disease activity according to gross domestic product in 25 countries in the QUEST-RA database.

Objective: To analyse associations between the clinical status of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and the gross domestic product (GDP) of their resident country.

Methods: The Quantitative Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (QUEST-RA) cohort includes clinical and questionnaire data from 6004 patients who were seen in usual care at 70 rheumatology clinics in 25 countries as of April 2008, including 18 European countries. Demographic variables, clinical characteristics, RA disease activity measures, including the disease activity score in 28 joints (DAS28), and treatment-related variables were analysed according to GDP per capita, including 14 "high GDP" countries with GDP per capita greater than US$24,000 and 11 "low GDP" countries with GDP per capita less than US$11,000.

Clinicopathological characteristics of ganglioneuroma and ganglioneuroblastoma: a report from the CCG and COG.

Background: The International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification (INPC) was the first to clearly define prognostic subgroups in ganglioneuroma (GN) and ganglioneuroblastoma (GNB).

Procedure: Histopathology and tumor resectability of 552 GN/GNB cases from the Children's Cancer Group (CCG) and Children's Oncology Group (COG) neuroblastoma studies were reviewed. The results were analyzed along with clinical information and biological data of the cases.

Predicting outcomes for children with neuroblastoma using a multigene-expression signature: a retrospective SIOPEN/COG/GPOH study.

Background: More accurate prognostic assessment of patients with neuroblastoma is required to better inform the choice of risk-related therapy. The aim of this study is to develop and validate a gene-expression signature to improve outcome prediction.

Methods: 59 genes were selected using an innovative data-mining strategy, and were profiled in the largest neuroblastoma patient series (n=579) to date using real-time quantitative PCR starting from only 20 ng of RNA.

Culture-independent identification of gut bacteria correlated with the onset of diabetes in a rat model.

Bacteria associated with the onset of type 1 diabetes in a rat model system were identified. In two experiments, stool samples were collected at three time points after birth from bio-breeding diabetes-prone (BB-DP) and bio-breeding diabetes-resistant (BB-DR) rats. DNA was isolated from these samples and the 16S rRNA gene was amplified using universal primer sets.

Impact of donor graft steatosis on overall outcome and viral recurrence after liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus cirrhosis.

The aim of this study was to determine the influence of donor graft steatosis on overall outcome, viral recurrence, and fibrosis progression in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis. One hundred twenty patients who underwent OLT for HCV cirrhosis between 1995 and 2005 were included in the study. Donor steatosis was categorized as absent (0%-10%; n = 40), mild (10%-30%; n = 32), moderate (30%-60%; n = 29), or severe (>60%; n = 19).

Factors affecting survival and tumor recurrence in patients transplanted for hepatocellular carcinoma and coexistent hepatitis C virus.

A better understanding of tumor factors influencing patient and graft survival and recurrence of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) associated with hepatitis C virus (HCV) cirrhosis may be useful to maximize the benefits of liver transplantation (OLT). Sixty-three adults underwent OLT for end-stage liver disease secondary to HCV with concomitant HCC. The outcome measures were patient and graft survival, as well as recurrence-free survival, computed using a stepwise Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Model for end-stage liver disease can predict very early outcome after liver transplantation.

Postoperative Model for End-stage Liver Disease (MELD) values have never been assessed to predict very early (<1 week) death after liver transplantation (OLT). We retrospectively reviewed 275 consecutive OLTs performed in 252 recipients reported in a prospective database. We calculated the MELD score (pre-MELD) and consecutive postoperative MELD (post-MELD) scores computed daily during the first postoperative week and on days 15 and 30 after OLT.

Molecular markers reveal no genetic differentiation between Myrica rivas-martinezii and M. faya (Myricaceae).

Background And Aims: Myrica rivas-martinezii is a critically endangered endemic of the laurel forest of the Canary Islands and co-occurs very close to M. faya. Some authors suggest that M.

Late hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm: a rare complication after resection of hilar cholangiocarcinoma.

We report an unusual pathological entity of a pseudoaneurysm of the right hepatic artery, which developed two years after the resection of a type II hilar cholangiocarcinoma and secondary to an excessive skeletonization for regional lymphadenectomy and neoadjuvant external-beam radiotherapy. After a sudden and massive hematemesis, a multidetector computed tomographic angiography (MDCTA) showed a hepatic artery pseudoaneurysm. Angiography with embolization of the pseudoaneurysm was attempted using microcoils with adequate patency of the hepatic artery and the occlusion of the pseudoaneurysm.

Genome-wide association study of rheumatoid arthritis in the Spanish population: KLF12 as a risk locus for rheumatoid arthritis susceptibility.

Objective: To identify new genes associated with susceptibility to rheumatoid arthritis (RA), using a 2-stage genome-wide association study.

Methods: Following a liability-based study design, we analyzed 317,503 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 400 patients with RA and 400 control subjects. We selected a group of candidate SNPs for replication in an independent group of 410 patients with RA and 394 control subjects.

Prevalence of VP4 and VP7 genotypes of human rotavirus in Ecuadorian children with acute diarrhea.

The objective of the present study was to determine rotavirus etiology and prevalence of the different rotavirus serotypes in Ecuadorian children younger than 5 years of age with gastroenteritis. Children (729) less than 5 years of age with acute diarrhea from either public or private primary health care centers in 10 different provinces of Ecuador, between March 2006 and August 2006 were included in the study. Rotavirus infection was diagnosed using a commercial immunoenzymatic test.

Cardiovascular disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: results from the QUEST-RA study.

Introduction: We analyzed the prevalence of cardiovascular (CV) disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its association with traditional CV risk factors, clinical features of RA, and the use of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) in a multinational cross-sectional cohort of nonselected consecutive outpatients with RA (The Questionnaires in Standard Monitoring of Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis Program, or QUEST-RA) who were receiving regular clinical care.

Methods: The study involved a clinical assessment by a rheumatologist and a self-report questionnaire by patients. The clinical assessment included a review of clinical features of RA and exposure to DMARDs over the course of RA.

What is the diagnostic value of ultrasonography compared to physical evaluation in patients with idiopathic carpal tunnel syndrome?

Objective: Our hypothesis is that sonography performed by the rheumatologist in patients with suspected carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) has higher diagnostic value compared to physical evaluation.

Methods: Adult patients with suspected idiopathic CTS, defined by sensory symptoms over the distribution of the median nerve with or without positive results with the Phalen and/or the Tinel's maneuvers were included. The diagnosis of CTS was indicated by typical symptoms daily for at least 3 months and a positive nerve conduction study.

Contribution of marginal donors to liver transplantation for hepatitis C virus infection.

The use of marginal liver donors can affect the outcomes of liver transplantation in patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. There are no firm conclusions about which donor criteria are important for allocation of high-risk grafts to recipients with HCV cirrhosis. We performed 120 consecutive liver transplantations for HCV infection between 1995 and 2005.

Refinement of intrathymic injection in mice.

Direct intrathymic injection is a common procedure used in several types of experimental protocols in the mouse. Currently available approaches involve major surgical procedures that expose the thoracic cavity, resulting in an increased risk of poor recovery and postsurgical complications. The authors sought to refine this surgery to reduce animal pain and distress without compromising overall efficiency of the technique.

QUEST-RA: quantitative clinical assessment of patients with rheumatoid arthritis seen in standard rheumatology care in 15 countries.

Objective: To conduct a cross-sectional review of non-selected consecutive outpatients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) as part of standard clinical care in 15 countries for an overview of the characteristics of patients with RA.

Methods: The review included current disease activity using data from clinical assessment and a patient self-report questionnaire, which was translated into each language. Data on demographic, disease and treatment-related variables were collected and analysed using descriptive statistics.

Surgical treatment of persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia (PHH) (insulinoma and nesidioblastosis).

Background: The persistent hyperinsulinemic hypoglycemia is characterized by clinical symptoms that occur when the blood glucose levels drop below the normal range. Two pathological situations cause this clinical problem: The presence of a tumor of the pancreas secreting excessive amounts of insulin, known as insulinoma, and congenital beta-cell hyperplasia in the pancreas in children and noninsulinoma pancreatogenic hypoglycemia syndrome in adults.

Patients And Methods: Clinical characteristic and surgical outcome of a group of 20 patients operated on for this hypoglycemic syndrome; 18 for insulinoma and two for nesidioblastosis in children was studied.