Clinician-dependent variations in inappropriate use of myocardial perfusion imaging: training, specialty, and location.

Background: Inappropriate use of myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) may vary depending on the training, specialty, or practice location of the clinician.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional investigation of consecutive patients who underwent MPI at our Veterans Affairs medical center between December 2010 and July 2011. Characteristics of the MPI ordering clinicians were extracted to investigate any associations with inappropriate use.

Psychometric properties of the screening tool of feeding problems (STEP) in Turkish children with ASD.

The purpose of this study is to determine the psychometric properties of the screening tool of feeding problems (STEP) in Turkish children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). After providing linguistic equivalence of the scale, STEP was applied to 360 mothers on behalf of their children with ASD in order to determine the associated feeding problems. The scale which has 5 sub-domains and 3 Likert-type questions originally consisted of 23 items.

Sleep disorders in cirrhotics; how can we detect ?

Background & Aims: Sleep disorders (SDs) are common in cirrhotics and are often associated with hepatic encephalopathy. SDs negatively affect patients' daily activities and work efficiency. For this reason, early diagnosis is important.

Effectiveness of pharmacologic therapies on smoking cessation success: three years results of a smoking cessation clinic.

Background: Pharmacologic therapies have an important role in the success of interventions for smoking cessation. This study aims to determine the efficacy of several pharmacologic treatments in patients who applied to a smoking cessation clinic.

Methods: This retrospective study includes 422 patients who presented to our smoking cessation clinic between January 2010 and June 2013, used the pharmacologic treatment as prescribed and completed the one-year follow-up period.

Clinical characteristics of Turkish women with Candida krusei vaginitis and antifungal susceptibility of the C. krusei isolates.

Objective: Candida krusei causes approximately 1% of vulvovaginal candidiasis (VVC) cases and is naturally resistant to fluconazole. Antifungal testing may be required if C. krusei vaginitis fails to respond to non-fluconazole therapy, particularly in patients with recurrent infections.

Two-dimensional image reconstruction with spectrally-randomized ultrasound signals.

An ultrasound imaging method using unfocused frequency-randomized transmissions and image reconstruction from data received by a single element is experimentally demonstrated. The elements of an ultrasound imaging array are randomly assigned different frequencies and driven by a multicycle sinusoidal burst. The resulting acoustic field is spectrally unique and target localization is possible based on the a priori knowledge of this field.

Effect of socks on the assessment of vibration sensation.

Objective. To investigate the difference between the measurement of vibration sensation without and with socks. Material and Methods.

Effects of 900 MHz electromagnetic field emitted by cellular phones on electrocardiograms of guinea pigs.

This study was carried out to determine the effects of electromagnetic field (EMF) emitted by cellular phones (CPs) on electrocardiograms (ECGs) of guinea pigs. A total of 30 healthy guinea pigs weighing 500-800 g were used. After 1 week of adaptation period, animals were randomly divided into two groups: control group (n = 10) and EMF-exposed group (n = 20).

Multi-planar dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound assessment of blood flow in a rabbit model of testicular torsion.

To assess correlation between multi-planar, dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (US) blood flow measurements and radiolabeled microsphere blood flow measurements, five groups of six rabbits underwent unilateral testicular torsion of 0°, 180°, 360°, 540° or 720°. Five US measurements per testis (three transverse/two longitudinal) were obtained pre-operatively and immediately and 4 and 8 h post-operatively using linear transducers (7-4 MHz/center frequency 4.5 MHz/10 rabbits; 9-3 MHz/center frequency 5.

Long-term maxillofacial effects of radiotherapy in young nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients: report of 3 cases.

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is a rare and distinct malignancy that arises from the epithelium of the nasopharynx. It accounts almost 1% of all pediatric malignancies. Oral complications of radiotherapy in the head and neck region are the result of the deleterious effects of radiation on salivary glands, oral mucosa, bone, dentition, masticatory musculature, and temporomandibular joints.

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome in a child with Henoch-Schonlein purpura.

Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) is a small vessel vasculitis that affects the gastrointestinal and central nervous systems and the kidneys. The disease primarily affects children, but may occur in elderly children with allergic purpura and also in adults. Central nervous system involvement may be the first sign; however, it is rarely encountered.

The effects of transport by pneumatic tube system on blood cell count, erythrocyte sedimentation and coagulation tests.

Introduction: Today, the pneumatic tube transport system (PTS) is used frequently because of its advantages related to timing and speed. However, the impact of various types of PTS on blood components is unknown. The aim of this study was to examine the influence of PTS on the quality of routine blood cell counts, erythrocyte sedimentation, and certain blood coagulation tests.

Evaluation of nutrient equivalency of microbial phytase in hens in late lay given maize-soybean or distiller's dried grains with solubles (DDGS) diets.

1. An experiment was conducted with 360 Lohmann LSL-Classic White Leghorn layers (64 weeks old) to evaluate the effects of supplementation of microbial phytase on production, egg quality, bone, selected manure parameters and feed costs. 2.

Alpha fetoprotein levels and its relationship with histopathological findings in patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease.

Background: Non alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) encompasses a wide spectrum of liver disorders ranging from simple steatosis (SS) to cirrhosis. In addition, increasing evidence indicates that hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) may represent a late complication of NAFLD. Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) serum levels can rise in adults with HCC.

A 24-month evaluation of amalgam and resin-based composite restorations: Findings from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network.

Background: Knowing which factors influence restoration longevity can help clinicians make sound treatment decisions. The authors analyzed data from The National Dental Practice-Based Research Network to identify predictors of early failures of amalgam and resin-based composite (RBC) restorations.

Methods: In this prospective cohort study, the authors gathered information from clinicians and offices participating in the network.

Analysis of fatal cases of pandemic influenza A (H1N1) virus infections in pediatric patients with leukemia.

Background: Pandemic influenza A/H1N1/2009 virus usually causes mild illness in healthy children. Chronic medical conditions are recognized as increasing the risk for complications of influenza virus infection. Although most studies including children with acute leukemia and H1N1 virus have reported no deaths, some anectodal reports with low patient numbers have reported mortality rates as high as 28.

Effects of dietary rosemary and oregano volatile oil mixture on quail performance, egg traits and egg oxidative stability.

1. This study was conducted to determine the effects of volatile oil mixture on quail laying performance, egg traits and egg malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration. 2.

Histomorphometrical and radiological comparison of low-level laser therapy effects on distraction osteogenesis: experimental study.

Distraction osteogenesis (DO) is the application of traction to the callus formed between bone segments and stimulation of bone formation by creating stress on the callus with this traction. Shorten the duration of DO and increasing the capacity of bone formation is important to prevent the possible complications of DO. For this reason, it was considered that low-level laser therapy (LLLT) may affect positively DO and it can decrease the complication range by shortening the period.

Comparison between daily supplementation doses of 200 versus 400 IU of vitamin D in infants.

The daily supplementation of vitamin D is mandatory for infants. However, there are still conflicting opinions about the exact daily dose. Thus, we aimed to evaluate a daily supplementation dose of 200 IU is sufficient and compared the supplementation doses of 200 and 400 IU per day.

Discrete molecular dynamics study of oligomer formation by N-terminally truncated amyloid β-protein.

In Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid β-protein (Aβ) self-assembles into toxic oligomers. Of the two predominant Aβ alloforms, Aβ1-40 and Aβ1-42, the latter is particularly strongly linked to AD. N-terminally truncated and pyroglutamated Aβ peptides were recently shown to seed Aβ aggregation and contribute significantly to Aβ-mediated toxicity, yet their folding and assembly were not explored computationally.

Multiple atypical recurrent meningiomas 13 years after radiotherapy for unilateral retinoblastoma: case report and review of the literature.

Radiotherapy is an important treatment modality for intracranial malignancies. Improved survival rates were achieved via a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. On the other hand, improved survival rates made long-term complications of radiotherapy more apparent.