Assessment of thermal index compliance in clinical ultrasound examinations.

Introduction: The thermal index (TI) is critical for monitoring potential heating risks in ultrasound examinations. This study aims to analyse adherence to TI guidelines in clinical ultrasound exams, focusing on the thermal index for soft tissue (TIS) and thermal index for bone at the focus (TIB).

Methods: Clinical ultrasound images over a five working day period from a single NHS University Hospital Trust were analysed using a custom MATLAB script.

Limitations of Current Approaches for Predicting Groundwater Vulnerability from PFAS Contamination in the Vadose Zone.

Published literature for reported sorption coefficients (K) of eight anionic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in soil was reviewed. K values spanned three to five log units indicating that no single value would be appropriate for use in estimating PFAS impacts to groundwater using existing soil-water partition equations. Regression analysis was used to determine if the soil or solution parameters might be used to predict K values.

Automation of the Whole-Blood Thiopurine -Methyltransferase (TPMT) Phenotyping Assay Using the Biomek NX and Biomek i5 Liquid-Handling Workstations.

Assessment of thiopurine -methyltransferase (TPMT) status is required before commencing thiopurine treatment to reduce the potential for adverse drug reactions. Our laboratory has provided a national TPMT phenotyping service since 2003. Our assay uses 6-thioguanine as substrate and detection of 6-methylthioguanine via high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) fluorescence.

The impact of ASEAN economic integration on health worker mobility: a scoping review of the literature.

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Economic Community (AEC) was inaugurated in December 2015 with the primary aim of achieving a strong and prosperous community through accelerating economic integration. The notion of a single market, underpinned by the free flow of trade in services and skilled labour, is integral to the spirit of the AEC. To facilitate the intra-regional mobility of health professionals, Mutual Recognition Arrangements (MRAs) were signed, for nursing in 2006 and for medicine and dentistry in 2009, and now sit within the AEC objectives.

Assessing falls risk in older adult mental health patients: a Western Australian review.

Falls are a common and costly complication of hospitalization, particularly in older adult populations. This paper presents the results of a review of 139 falls at two older adult mental health services in Western Australia, Australia, over a 12-month period. Data were collected from the hospital incident report management system and from case file reviews of patients who sustained a fall during hospitalization.

Lipoproteins and lipoprotein metabolism in periodontal disease.

A growing body of evidence indicates that the incidence of atherosclerosis is increased in subjects with periodontitis - a chronic infection of the oral cavity. This article summarizes the evidence that suggests periodontitis shifts the lipoprotein profile to be more proatherogenic. LDL-C is elevated in periodontitis and most studies indicate that triglyceride levels are also increased.

Serum cystatin C is an early predictive biomarker of acute kidney injury after pediatric cardiopulmonary bypass.

Background And Objectives: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a frequent complication of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). Serum creatinine (SCr), the current standard, is an inadequate marker for AKI since a delay occurs before SCr rises. Biomarkers that are sensitive and rapidly measurable could allow early intervention and improve patient outcomes.

Two distinct mechanisms segregate Prospero in the longitudinal glia underlying the timing of interactions with axons.

Prospero is required in dividing longitudinal glia (LG) during axon guidance; initially to enable glial division in response to neuronal contact, and subsequently to maintain glial precursors in a quiescent state with mitotic potential. Only Prospero-positive LG respond to neuronal ablation by over-proliferating, mimicking a glial-repair response. Prospero is distributed unequally through the progeny cells of the longitudinal glioblast lineage.

Coupling glial numbers and axonal patterns.

The control of the rate of cell division enables cells to respond to signals from other cells and this promotes the emergence of order as cell mass increases during growth. Glial cell proliferation is coupled to axon guidance, and the sequential deployment of glial cells in constrained numbers enables the sequential sorting out of axons into appropriate trajectories through time.(1) This is achieved by the neuron-dependent regulation of glial division at the G(1) phase.

Prospero maintains the mitotic potential of glial precursors enabling them to respond to neurons.

During central nervous system development, glial cells need to be in the correct number and location, at the correct time, to enable axon guidance and neuropile formation. Repair of the injured or diseased central nervous system will require the manipulation of glial precursors, so that the number of glial cells is adjusted to that of neurons, enabling axonal tracts to be rebuilt, remyelinated and functional. Unfortunately, the molecular mechanisms controlling glial precursor proliferative potential are unknown.