Comparative effectiveness and complications of intravenous ceftriaxone compared with oral doxycycline in Lyme meningitis in children: a multicentre prospective cohort study.

Introduction: Lyme disease is the most common vectorborne disease in the Northern hemisphere with more than 400 000 new cases in the USA annually. Lyme meningitis is an uncommon but potentially serious clinical manifestation of Lyme disease. Intravenous ceftriaxone had been the first-line treatment for Lyme meningitis, but is associated with a high rate of complications.

Metabolic Syndrome in Commercial Truck Drivers: Prevalence, Associated Factors, and Comparison With the General Population.

Introduction: Commercial motor vehicle drivers, such as truck drivers, experience unique health, lifestyle, and occupational challenges directly associated with their profession.

Methods: All participants in this multistate cross-sectional study completed questionnaire measurements. Participants were categorized with metabolic syndrome (MetS) if they had at least three of the five modified criteria used in the joint scientific statement on metabolic syndrome.

Multiple early-formed water reservoirs in the interior of Mars.

The abundance and distribution of water within Mars through time plays a fundamental role in constraining its geological evolution and habitability. The isotopic composition of martian hydrogen provides insights into the interplay between different water reservoirs on Mars. However, D/H (deuterium/hydrogen) ratios of martian rocks and of the martian atmosphere span a wide range of values.

fMRI BOLD Correlates of EEG Independent Components: Spatial Correspondence With the Default Mode Network.

: We aimed to identify electroencephalographic (EEG) signal fluctuations within independent components (ICs) that correlate to spontaneous blood oxygenation level dependent (BOLD) activity in regions of the default mode network (DMN) during eyes-closed resting state. : We analyzed simultaneously acquired EEG and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) eyes-closed resting state data in a convenience sample of 30 participants. IC analysis (ICA) was used to decompose the EEG time-series and common ICs were identified using data-driven IC clustering across subjects.

The Role of Elbow Tender Point Examination in the Diagnosis of Lateral Epicondylitis.

Objective: To quantify sensitivity and specificity of the tender points and demonstrate how variability in case definition impacts prevalence of lateral epicondylitis (LE).

Methods: Baseline data analyzed from 1216 workers from the WISTAH study, a multicenter prospective cohort study of upper extremity musculoskeletal disorders. All workers completed computerized questionnaires, structured interviews, and two independent physical examinations in accordance with an established protocol.

Opioid use: Case-control analyses of worker's compensation data.

Objectives: Working-age adults are disproportionately impacted by opioid misuse. Factors associated with opioid misuse in people with workers compensation (WC) claims are not well studied. WC in some states is a "captured" market making it a more efficient site for researching the opioids epidemic.

A qualitative study of motivations for meditation in anthroposophic practitioners.

Research on meditation is advancing, but few studies about the motivations of meditators exist. Additionally, many forms and traditions of meditation have yet to be investigated. This study addresses both of these issues by presenting an overview of different forms of motivations found in contemporary Anthroposophic meditation practice.

Association Between Exercise and Low Back Pain Resulting in Modified Duty and Lost Time: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of an Occupational Population.

Objective: The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between leisure time exercise and whether workers ever had modified duty or lost time (MD/LT) due to low back pain (LBP) in an occupational cohort.

Methods: Workers (N = 827) completed a structured interview assessing characteristics of their LBP, whether or not the pain caused modified or lost work time, and their participation in leisure time exercise. Odds ratio of modified/lost time and minutes of exercise participation were assessed.

Controlling the Temporal Structure of Brain Oscillations by Focused Attention Meditation.

Our focus of attention naturally fluctuates between different sources of information even when we desire to focus on a single object. Focused attention (FA) meditation is associated with greater control over this process, yet the neuronal mechanisms underlying this ability are not entirely understood. Here, we hypothesize that the capacity of attention to transiently focus and swiftly change relates to the critical dynamics emerging when neuronal systems balance at a point of instability between order and disorder.

Association between wrist ratio and carpal tunnel syndrome: Effect modification by body mass index.

Introduction: Previous studies have reported higher wrist ratios (WR) related to carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) but have not assessed effect modification by obesity and may have inadequately controlled for confounders.

Methods: Baseline data of a multicenter prospective cohort study were analyzed. CTS was defined by nerve conduction study (NCS) criteria and symptoms.

Luminescence Spectroscopical Properties of Plagioclase Particles from the Hayabusa Sample Return Mission: An Implication for Study of Space Weathering Processes in the Asteroid Itokawa.

We report a systematic spectroscopical investigation of three plagioclase particles (RB-QD04-0022, RA-QD02-0025-01, and RA-QD02-0025-02) returned by the Hayabusa spacecraft from the asteroid Itokawa, by means of scanning electron microscopy, cathodoluminescence microscopy/spectroscopy, and micro-Raman spectroscopy. The cathodoluminescence properties are used to evaluate the crystallization effects and the degree of space weathering processes, especially the shock-wave history of Itokawa. They provide new insights regarding spectral changes of asteroidal bodies due to space weathering processes.

P value interpretations and considerations.

Application and interpretation of statistical evaluation of relationships is a necessary element in biomedical research. Statistical analyses rely on P value to demonstrate relationships. The traditional level of significance, P<0.

[Posttransplantation diabetes mellitus in patients after kidney transplantation - Incidence and risk factors].

Background: Transplantation (NTX) associated ischemia-reperfusion-mechanisms and the predisposition for insulin resistance are discussed as causes of a posttransplantation diabetes mellitus (PTDM). Furthermore, immunosuppressants can have a damaging effect on insulin secretion.

Methods: 55 metabolically healthy patients with an endstage renal disease (age 52 ± 14 years, body mass index 27 ± 5 kg / m(2), blood pressure 137 ± 15/82 ± 11 mmHg) were included in a prospectively cohort study.

The Association Between Cardiovascular Disease Risk Factors and Motor Vehicle Crashes Among Professional Truck Drivers.

Objective: This study assesses relationships between the Framingham cardiovascular disease risk (CVD risk) score and prevalence of US Department of Transportation (DOT)-reportable crashes in commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers, after controlling for potential confounders.

Methods: Data were analyzed from CMV drivers (N = 797) in a large cross-sectional study. CVD risk was calculated for each driver.

Pilot Study on Folate Bioavailability from a Camembert Cheese Reveals Contradictory Findings to Recent Results from a Human Short-term Study.

Different dietary sources of folate have differing bioavailabilities, which may affect their nutritional "value." In order to examine if these differences also occur within the same food products, a short-term human pilot study was undertaken as a follow-up study to a previously published human trial to evaluate the relative native folate bioavailabilities from low-fat Camembert cheese compared to pteroylmonoglutamic acid as the reference dose. Two healthy human subjects received the test foods in a randomized cross-over design separated by a 14-day equilibrium phase.

Effects of Long-Term Mindfulness Meditation on Brain's White Matter Microstructure and its Aging.

Although research on the effects of mindfulness meditation (MM) is increasing, still very little has been done to address its influence on the white matter (WM) of the brain. We hypothesized that the practice of MM might affect the WM microstructure adjacent to five brain regions of interest associated with mindfulness. Diffusion tensor imaging was employed on samples of meditators and non-meditators (n = 64) in order to investigate the effects of MM on group difference and aging.

Origin of the p-process radionuclides 92Nb and 146Sm in the early solar system and inferences on the birth of the Sun.

The abundances of (92)Nb and (146)Sm in the early solar system are determined from meteoritic analysis, and their stellar production is attributed to the p process. We investigate if their origin from thermonuclear supernovae deriving from the explosion of white dwarfs with mass above the Chandrasekhar limit is in agreement with the abundance of (53)Mn, another radionuclide present in the early solar system and produced in the same events. A consistent solution for (92)Nb and (53)Mn cannot be found within the current uncertainties and requires the (92)Nb/(92)Mo ratio in the early solar system to be at least 50% lower than the current nominal value, which is outside its present error bars.

Factors Associated With Truck Crashes in a Large Cross Section of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers.

Objective: This large, cross-sectional study calculated prevalence of disorders and assessed factors associated with self-reported lifetime crashes.

Methods: Truck drivers (n = 797) completed computerized questionnaires reporting crashes, demographics, psychosocial factors, and other elements, as well as had taken measurements (eg, height, weight, serum, and blood pressure).

Results: Most drivers were male (n = 685, 85.

Predictors Associated With Changes of Weight and Total Cholesterol Among Two Occupational Cohorts Over 10 Years.

Objective: To ascertain worker health characteristics and psychosocial factors associated with changes in body weight and total cholesterol (TC) among two production operation populations.

Methods: We performed descriptive and predictive analysis of questionnaire data and biomedical measurements from two prospective cohort studies. Our key outcomes were changes in weight, and TC over 5 to 10 years between baseline and exit assessments.

A Clinical Trial on Weight Loss among Truck Drivers.

Background: The high prevalence of obesity among commercial truck drivers may be related to sedentary nature of the job, lack of healthy eating choices, and lack of exercise. There may be a link between obesity and crash risk, therefore an intervention to reduce obesity in this population is needed.

Objective: To assess feasibility of a 12-week weight loss intervention for truck drivers with a weight loss goal of 10% of initial body weight.

Stages of weight change among an occupational cohort.

Objective: To assess the readiness to change dietary intake and body weight among production workers. We also ascertained differences between self-perceived and measured body mass index.

Methods: This cross-sectional study queried physical activity, psychosocial factors, fruit and vegetable intake, and readiness to change based on the transtheoretical model.

Two industrial cohorts: baseline characteristics and factors associated with obesity.

Objective: To describe demographic and health characteristics, and factors associated with obesity among production workers.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed baseline data from two occupational cohorts. Regression modeling was used to assess associations between worker characteristics and obesity.

Folate bioavailability from foods rich in folates assessed in a short term human study using stable isotope dilution assays.

Different sources of folate may have different bioavailability and hence may impact the standard definition of folate equivalents. In order to examine this, a short term human study was undertaken to evaluate the relative native folate bioavailabilities from spinach, Camembert cheese and wheat germs compared to pteroylmonoglutamic acid as the reference dose. The study had a single-centre, randomised, four-treatment, four-period, four-sequence, cross-over design, i.

Chloromethane release from carbonaceous meteorite affords new insight into Mars lander findings.

Controversy continues as to whether chloromethane (CH3Cl) detected during pyrolysis of Martian soils by the Viking and Curiosity Mars landers is indicative of organic matter indigenous to Mars. Here we demonstrate CH3Cl release (up to 8 μg/g) during low temperature (150-400°C) pyrolysis of the carbonaceous chondrite Murchison with chloride or perchlorate as chlorine source and confirm unequivocally by stable isotope analysis the extraterrestrial origin of the methyl group (δ(2)H +800 to +1100‰, δ(13)C -19.2 to +10‰,).