A pyritized Ordovician leanchoiliid arthropod.

The "short-great-appendage" arthropods (Megacheira), such as Leanchoilia, have featured heavily in discussions of arthropod evolution, particularly related to the head and its appendages. Megacheirans are subject to competing interpretations, either as a clade or a grade, in the stem group of Euarthropoda or, alternatively, Chelicerata. They are most diverse in Cambrian Burgess-Shale-type deposits, where the family Leanchoiliidae is represented by six genera, characterized by the presence of three distal flagella on the great appendage with a presumed sensory function.

The early Cambrian Kylinxia zhangi and evolution of the arthropod head.

The early Cambrian Kylinxia zhangi occupies a pivotal position in arthropod evolution, branching from the euarthropod stem lineage between radiodonts (Anomalocaris and relatives) and "great-appendage" arthropods. Its combination of appendage and exoskeletal features is viewed as uniquely bridging the morphologies of so-called "lower" and "upper" stem-group euarthropods. Microtomographic study of new specimens of Kylinxia refines and corrects previous interpretation of head structures in this species.

Joint British Societies' position statement on bullying, harassment and discrimination in cardiology.

Inappropriate behaviour is an umbrella term including discrimination, harassment and bullying. This includes both actions and language and can affect any member of the cardiovascular workforce/team. Evidence has suggested that such behaviour is regularly experienced within UK cardiology departments, where inappropriate behaviour may represent longstanding cultural and practice issues within the unit.

Deciphering Black Extrinsic Tooth Stain Composition in Children Using Metaproteomics.

The present study focuses on the use of a metaproteomic approach to analyze Black Extrinsic Tooth Stains, a specific type of pigmented extrinsic substance. Metaproteomics is a powerful emerging technology that successfully enabled human protein and bacterial identification of this specific dental biofilm using high-resolution tandem mass spectrometry. A total of 1600 bacterial proteins were identified in black stain (BS) samples and 2058 proteins in dental plaque (DP) samples, whereas 607 and 582 human proteins were identified in BS and DP samples, respectively.

Hepatic safety of the antifungal triazole agent posaconazole: characterization of adverse event reports in a manufacturer's safety database.

Background: Second generation triazoles including posaconazole are efficacious for prophylaxis and salvage treatment of life-threatening invasive fungal diseases but have been associated with hepatic adverse events (AEs). This report evaluated hepatic AEs in posaconazole-treated patients.

Research Design And Methods: Hepatobiliary AEs occurring after posaconazole exposure in the company's global safety database were analyzed to characterize underlying medical conditions and concomitant drug exposure.

The potential impact of salivary peptides in periodontitis.

Periodontitis is a complex immune-inflammatory condition characterized by the disruption of the periodontal ligament and subsequent formation of periodontal pockets, and by alveolar bone loss, often resulting in tooth loss. A myriad of factors, namely, genetic, metabolic, immunological, and inflammatory, is associated with progression of periodontitis. Periodontitis is also associated with systemic conditions such as neoplastic disorders, obesity, and diabetes.

Peripheral Blood and Salivary Biomarkers of Blood-Brain Barrier Permeability and Neuronal Damage: Clinical and Applied Concepts.

Within the neurovascular unit (NVU), the blood-brain barrier (BBB) operates as a key cerebrovascular interface, dynamically insulating the brain parenchyma from peripheral blood and compartments. Increased BBB permeability is clinically relevant for at least two reasons: it actively participates to the etiology of central nervous system (CNS) diseases, and it enables the diagnosis of neurological disorders based on the detection of CNS molecules in peripheral body fluids. In pathological conditions, a suite of glial, neuronal, and pericyte biomarkers can exit the brain reaching the peripheral blood and, after a process of filtration, may also appear in saliva or urine according to varying temporal trajectories.

Evaluation of the significance of pretreatment liver biopsy and baseline mental health disorder diagnosis on hepatitis C treatment completion rates at a veterans affairs medical center.

Objectives. This study was performed to define the overall treatment response rates and treatment completion rates among the population of Hepatitis C infected patients at an urban VA Medical Center. Additionally, we examined whether pretreatment liver biopsy is a positive predictor for treatment completion and if the presence of mental health disorders is a negative predictor for treatment completion.

Do statins reduce hepatitis C RNA titers during routine clinical use?

Aim: To compare hepatitis C virus (HCV) titers in patients with chronic hepatitis C with and without exposure to 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors (statins).

Methods: Medical records were reviewed for 6463 patients with documented HCV infection at a single center between March 2004 and September 2006. Patients with confirmed viremia and meeting inclusion criteria were assigned to one of three groups: Group A (n = 50), dyslipidemic patients with statin usage during HCV RNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) determination; Group B (n = 49), dyslipidemic patients with prior or future statin usage but not at the time of HCV RNA PCR determination; and Group C (n = 102), patients without statin usage during the study period.

Adherence to hepatitis C virus therapy and early virologic outcomes.

Background: Suboptimal drug exposure attributable to physician-directed dosage reductions of pegylated interferon and/or ribavirin are associated with decreased sustained virologic response rates. However, data are limited with regard to suboptimal drug exposure that is attributable to missed doses by patients with chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. We examined the relationship between adherence to pegylated interferon and ribavirin therapy, measured by pharmacy refill, and HCV suppression during the initial 12 weeks of therapy.

Creative writing workshops for medical education: learning from a pilot study with hospital staff.

A course in creative writing was designed as a possible tool in medical education. Twelve volunteers (six doctors and six non-medical staff) participated in seven workshops held weekly. Four aims were identified: to help put thoughts onto paper; to facilitate interpretation of narrative; to encourage expression of emotions related to illness and death, and to encourage creativity.

Masseter muscle rigidity and malignant hyperthermia susceptibility in pediatric patients. An update on management and diagnosis.

Background: Controversy exists regarding the definition of masseter muscle rigidity (MMR) and anesthetic management after MMR. This study reports current anesthetic management after MMR, estimates the incidence of clinical malignant hyperthermia (MH) in patients with MMR, and is the first to evaluate the coincidence of MMR with malignant hyperthermia susceptibility (MHS) according to the 1987 North American Malignant Hyperthermia Group protocol.

Methods: Practicing anesthesiologists referred pediatric patients for biopsy between 1986 and 1991 based on evidence of MMR after succinylcholine (1975-1991).

Delpech and the origins of occupational psychiatry.

Auguste-Louis Delpech (1818-80) has been remembered principally as the author of the first detailed description of the serious consequences of exposure to carbon disulphide. A close reading of his work suggests that his reputation has been seriously undervalued. The subsequent development of occupational psychiatry, with its emphasis on the distinction between the organic and the functional, may be traced through publications on carbon disulphide.

Prioritising waiting lists.

The 'top 22' patient conditions on the general surgical waiting list at Guy's Hospital were rated independently by five general surgeons. Each surgeon estimated the peri-operative mortality rates associated with each treatment; the proportion of patients who failed to benefit; the effect of successful treatment on life expectancy and on the patients' quality of life. the mean values were used to estimate the expected net benefits (in terms of quality-adjusted life-years) from treatment one year earlier than might otherwise have been the case.

Organic solvents and presenile dementia: a case referent study using death certificates.

Occupational exposure to organic solvents has been implicated in the development of "presenile dementia" in several studies. The death certificates of all men aged under 65 dying in England and Wales bearing presenile dementia as cause of death were collected for the years 1970-9 (n = 557): control death certificates were obtained, matched for age and sex. No significant differences were found between the groups as regards estimated occupational exposure to either organic solvents or lead.

The effects of noradrenaline on reticulocytes of the albino rat.

The observation that sympathomimetic drugs or electrostimulation of the lumbar sympathetic trunks produces reticulocytosis has been reported by a number of authors in the literature. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon has been determined, although there is speculation that the result is caused by either activation of the reticuloendothelial system, vasoconstriction of the marrow blood vessels or stimulation of the suprarenal glands, spleen, or other erythropoetin-producing organs. The present study is a series of experiments to determine if the action of noradrenaline, in producing reticulocytosis, can be localized to the bone marrow.