Diagnosis and management of common maxillofacial injuries in the emergency department. Part 1: Advanced trauma life support.

Maxillofacial injuries are often seen in the emergency department. Fractures of the facial skeleton are commonly seen after assault, road traffic accidents, falls, and sporting injuries in a ratio mandibular:zygoma:maxillary of 6:2:1. Clinicians must be familiar with their management so that appropriate treatment may be used.

Test performance and classification statistics for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test in selected clinical samples.

The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test [RAVLT; Rey, A. (1941). L'examen psychologique dans les cas d'encéphalopathie traumatique.

Fuzzy ternary particle systems by surface-initiated atom transfer radical polymerization from layer-by-layer colloidal core-shell macroinitiator particles.

We report the synthesis of ternary polymer particle material systems composed of (a) a spherical colloidal particle core, coated with (b) a polyelectrolyte intermediate shell, and followed by (c) a grafted polymer brush prepared by surface-initiated polymerization as the outer shell. The layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition process was utilized to create a functional intermediate shell of poly(diallyl-dimethylammonium chloride)/poly(acrylic acid) multilayers on the colloid template with the final layer containing an atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) macroinitiator polyelectrolyte. The intermediate core-shell architecture was analyzed with FT-IR, electrophoretic mobililty (zeta-potential) measurements, atomic force microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) techniques.

Prediction errors of the Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimate-3 (OPIE-3) stratified by 13 age groups.

The Oklahoma Premorbid Intelligence Estimate-3 (OPIE-3) combines Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-3rd edition (WAIS-III) subtest raw scores (vocabulary, information, matrix reasoning, and picture completion) and demographic data (i.e., age, education, gender, ethnicity, and region) to predict FSIQ scores.

Development of a nonhuman primate model for Trichomonas vaginalis infection.

Objective: Trichomoniasis, caused by Trichomonas vaginalis, is a prevalent sexually transmitted infection associated with increased risk of HIV infection. An animal model of T. vaginalis infection would enable scientists to further investigate trichomoniasis.

Vaginal and rectal topical microbicide development: safety and efficacy of 1.0% Savvy (C31G) in the pigtailed macaque.

Background: A 1.0% gel formulation of C31G, a surfactant, has been shown to have in vitro antiviral and antibacterial activity.

Goal: The goal of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of vaginal and rectal applications of 1.

Preclinical safety and efficacy assessments of dendrimer-based (SPL7013) microbicide gel formulations in a nonhuman primate model.

Three gel formulations (1%, 3%, and 5% [wt/wt]) of SPL7013, a dendrimer known to have antiviral (anti-human immunodeficiency virus and anti-herpes simplex virus) activities, completed a range of preclinical tests in the pigtailed macaque models for vaginally and rectally applied topical microbicide safety assessments. The vaginal safety profile of the 3% SPL7013 gel formulation was equal to that of the 1% formulation but was superior to that of the 5% formulation. The 3% SPL7013 gel was further evaluated for rectal safety and for antichlamydial efficacy with cervical challenge with Chlamydia trachomatis.

Scientific peer review to inform regulatory decision making: leadership responsibilities and cautions.

The article offers insights on the peer-review process as it relates to scientific and technical reports used to inform regulatory decisions. Used effectively, peer review is a powerful tool for advising organizational leaders whether the scientific foundations of their decisions can be expected to withstand scrutiny as rule-making products move through interagency reviews, public comment and stakeholder processes, congressional oversight, and judicial review. The emphasis is "heads up" rather than "how to.

Prevalence and predictors of "heavy" marijuana use in a Canadian youth sample.

In this investigation, secondary analyses were performed on an extensive database for 473 biological and 128 adoptive families. These data, which were gathered as part of the Vancouver Family Survey, were used to examine the prevalence and predictors of "heavy" marijuana use in a Canadian youth sample aged 14-25. Results in this study showed that 12.

Overview: Using mode of action and life stage information to evaluate the human relevance of animal toxicity data.

A complete mode of action human relevance analysis--as distinct from mode of action (MOA) analysis alone--depends on robust information on the animal MOA, as well as systematic comparison of the animal data with corresponding information from humans. In November 2003, the International Life Sciences Institute's Risk Science Institute (ILSI RSI) published a 2-year study using animal and human MOA information to generate a four-part Human Relevance Framework (HRF) for systematic and transparent analysis of MOA data and information. Based mainly on non-DNA-reactive carcinogens, the HRF features a "concordance" analysis of MOA information from both animal and human sources, with a focus on determining the appropriate role for each MOA data set in human risk assessment.

Use of interventional radiology in the management of mediastinitis of odontogenic origin.

Descending necrotising mediastinitis is a rare complication of odontogenic infection. The key to diagnosis is to maintain a high index of suspicion when antibiotics and adequate surgical drainage do not lead to resolution of symptoms. Open thoracic operation to drain mediastinal collections is potentially lethal and interventional radiological techniques are thought to reduce mortality.

RBANS index discrepancies: base rates for older adults.

The present study expands upon the data available in the manual of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status, by providing base rate data on Index discrepancies that are organized by general level of ability and include both age and education corrections. The data presented are based on the performances of a sample of 718 community dwelling older adults. These findings offer the possibility of increased sensitivity at detecting clinically significant differences that might not be identified when relying on base rate data from a greater age range.

Test-retest stability and practice effects of the RBANS in a community dwelling elderly sample.

Repeated neuropsychological assessments are common with older adults, and the determination of true neurocognitive change is important for diagnostic assessment. Several statistical formulas are available to assist in this determination, but they rely on access to test-retest stability coefficients and practice effect values. The current study presents data on these psychometric properties of the RBANS in a large community dwelling elderly sample.

Sensory peptide neurotransmitters mediating mucosal and distension evoked neural vasodilator reflexes in guinea pig ileum.

The aim was to determine the role CGRP and/or tachykinins released from sensory neural mechanisms in enteric neural vasodilator pathways. These pathways project through the myenteric plexus to submucosal vasodilator neurons. Submucosal arterioles were exposed in the distal portion of an in vitro combined submucosal-myenteric guinea pig ileal preparation, and dilation was monitored with videomicroscopy.

Significant reduction in inflammatory response in the macaque model of chlamydial pelvic inflammatory disease with azithromycin treatment.

We inoculated 45 female macaques in the cervix with Chlamydia trachomatis once weekly for 5 weeks and randomly assigned them to treatment with doxycycline (n=12), azithromycin (n=12), or placebo (n=21). At hysterectomy, cervical cultures remained positive in 12 of 21 placebo-treated monkeys, versus 0 of 12 doxycycline- or azithromycin-treated monkeys (P<.01); cervical ligase chain reaction remained positive in 15 placebo-, 1 doxycycline-, and 0 azithromycin-treated monkeys.

A splice variant of the Drosophila vesicular monoamine transporter contains a conserved trafficking domain and functions in the storage of dopamine, serotonin, and octopamine.

Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) mediate the transport of dopamine (DA), serotonin (5HT), and other monoamines into secretory vesicles. The regulation of mammalian VMAT and the related vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT) has been proposed to involve membrane trafficking, but the mechanisms remain unclear. To facilitate a genetic analysis of vesicular transporter function and regulation, we have cloned the Drosophila homolog of the vesicular monoamine transporter (dVMAT).

Base rates of longitudinal RBANS discrepancies at one- and two-year intervals in community-dwelling older adults.

Identification of clinically significant change in performance over time on neurocognitive tests is an important aspect of neuropsychological evaluation; however, scant published empirical data exists to guide the clinician in determining the significance of psychometric change across clinically relevant retest intervals. The present study presents base rate data of RBANS score discrepancies in a user-friendly manner based on the performances of a large sample (n=283) of community-dwelling older adults. Data for 1- and 2-year retest intervals are presented in a tabular form that can be used as a convenient reference.

Regression-based formulas for predicting change in RBANS subtests with older adults.

Repeated neuropsychological assessments are common with older adults, and the determination of clinically significant change across time is an important issue. Regression-based prediction formulas have been utilized with other patient and healthy control samples to predict follow-up test performance based on initial performance and demographic variables. Comparisons between predicted and observed follow-up performances can assist clinicians in making the determination of change in the individual patient.

Thiophene dendron jacketed poly(amidoamine) dendrimers: nanoparticle synthesis and adsorption on graphite.

The peripheral functionalization of amine-terminated fourth-generation poly(amidoamine) (PAMAM) with thiophene dendrons and the preparation of dendrimer-encapsulated metal nanoparticles are described. Interesting nanoparticle stabilization and energy-transfer properties were observed with these hybrid materials. The synthesis involved imine coupling of the dendron derivatives to the peripheral amine groups of PAMAM followed by reduction.

Nephrotic plasma alters slit diaphragm-dependent signaling and translocates nephrin, Podocin, and CD2 associated protein in cultured human podocytes.

Podocytes are critical in maintaining the filtration barrier of the glomerulus and are dependent on the slit diaphragm (SD) proteins nephrin, podocin, and CD2-associated protein (CD2AP) to function optimally. The effects of normal human plasma and nephrotic plasma on podocytes were tested, focusing particularly on the SD complex. With the use of a conditionally immortalized human podocyte cell line, it first was shown that exposure to normal and non-nephrotic human plasma leads to a concentration of nephrin, podocin, CD2AP, and actin at the cell surface.

Predicting change with the RBANS in a community dwelling elderly sample.

Repeated neuropsychological assessments are common with older adults, and the determination of clinically significant change across time is an important issue. Regression-based prediction formulas have been utilized with other patient and healthy control samples to predict follow-up test performance based on initial performance and demographic variables. Comparisons between predicted and observed follow-up performances can assist clinicians in determining the significance of change in the individual patient.

Arabidopsis hapless mutations define essential gametophytic functions.

In flowering plants, the egg develops within a haploid embryo sac (female gametophyte) that is encased within the pistil. The haploid pollen grain (male gametophyte) extends a pollen tube that carries two sperm cells within its cytoplasm to the embryo sac. This feat requires rapid, precisely guided, and highly polarized growth through, between, and on the surface of the cells of the stigma, style, and ovary.

A pilot trial of rituximab and alemtuzumab combination therapy in patients with relapsed and/or refractory chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL).

The treatment of patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) who fail purine analogues is sub optimal. CLL lymphocytes express two antigens, namely CD 20 and CD 52, for which monoclonal antibodies are readily available. Rituximab is a chimeric monoclonal antibody targeted against CD 20, which has some activity in refractory CLL, with primary effect on nodal disease.

Identification of genes required for embryo development in Arabidopsis.

A long-term goal of Arabidopsis research is to define the minimal gene set needed to produce a viable plant with a normal phenotype under diverse conditions. This will require both forward and reverse genetics along with novel strategies to characterize multigene families and redundant biochemical pathways. Here we describe an initial dataset of 250 EMB genes required for normal embryo development in Arabidopsis.