Grapevine genotype susceptibility to Xylella fastidiosa does not predict vector transmission success.

For vector-borne diseases, interactions between vector, host, and pathogen can influence patterns of disease spread. In particular, previous studies suggest that host genotype may influence disease dynamics because of differences in susceptibility to the pathogen and, therefore, subsequent vector transmission efficiency from these plants. We tested this hypothesis by using the pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa, the etiological agent of Pierce's disease in grapevines, and its leafhopper vector Homalodisca vitripennis (Germar).

Risk factors associated with adverse drug reactions in hospitalised children: international multicentre study.

Background: Understanding the epidemiology and risk factors of adverse drug reactions (ADRs) is important in order to develop appropriate prevention strategies. This study aimed to identify risk factors associated with ADRs in hospitalised children and recommend strategies to minimise ADRs.

Methods: A prospective multicentre cohort study was conducted on paediatric general medical wards in five European and non-European hospitals.

Disrupting the transmission of a vector-borne plant pathogen.

Approaches to control vector-borne diseases rarely focus on the interface between vector and microbial pathogen, but strategies aimed at disrupting the interactions required for transmission may lead to reductions in disease spread. We tested if the vector transmission of the plant-pathogenic bacterium Xylella fastidiosa was affected by three groups of molecules: lectins, carbohydrates, and antibodies. Although not comprehensively characterized, it is known that X.

Occurrence of grapevine leafroll-associated virus complex in Napa Valley.

Grapevine leafroll disease (GLD) is caused by a complex of several virus species (grapevine leafroll-associated viruses, GLRaV) in the family Closteroviridae. Because of its increasing importance, it is critical to determine which species of GLRaV is predominant in each region where this disease is occurring. A structured sampling design, utilizing a combination of RT-PCR based testing and sequencing methods, was used to survey GLRaVs in Napa Valley (California, USA) vineyards (n = 36).

Role of irbesartan in prevention of post-coronary artery bypass graft atrial fibrillation.

Background And Objective: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common complication of cardiothoracic surgery (CTS). Existing evidence about the potential protective role of angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonists (angiotensin receptor blockers [ARBs]) for post-CTS AF has been limited and conflicting. In this single-blind, open-label, randomized prospective pilot study, we evaluated the potential protective role of irbesartan (an ARB) in post-coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) AF.

Pattern of presentation in type 1 diabetic patients at the diabetes center of a university hospital.

Background And Objectives: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major health problem worldwide. This study aimed to investigate the pattern of presentation and complications of pediatric diabetes.

Design And Setting: Retrospective study of children treated at a diabetes clinic at a university hospital for diabetes over 12-year period.

Peritoneal dialysis, an expanding mode of renal replacement therapy in Qatar.

Qatar is one of the gulf countries with a current estimated population of 1.4 million. Diabetes mellitus, hypertension and chronic kidney diseases are major emerging epidemics, with an incidence of end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) of 202 patients per million population per year.

Zoonotic ectopic fascioliasis: review and discussion.

Ectopic fascioliasis (EF) has direct and indirect effects on both humans and animals. The phenomenon of EF was individual cases in the period from 1950 up to the end of last century. From the period of 2000 up to 2006, plenty of researches were on EF in the developed and undeveloped countries.

The use of penile skin graft versus penile skin flap in the repair of long bulbo-penile urethral stricture: a prospective randomized study.

Objectives: To evaluate the use of penile circular skin graft versus flap as a ventral onlay for bulbo-penile stricture urethra.

Material And Methods: Between 2003 and 2009, 37 patients with bulbo-penile stricture were randomized to penile methods circular skin graft (PCG = 18) or flap (PCF = 19). Inclusion criteria included postinstrumentation or idiopathic stricture.

Microbial spectrum and outcome of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis in Qatar.

Peritoneal dialysis therapy rapidly expanded in Qatar during the last decade. Peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis remains the leading cause of morbidity and technique failure. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence of peritoneal dialysis related peritonitis in Qatar, during a five year study period.

Microscale laser surgery reveals adaptive function of male intromittent genitalia.

The leading hypothesis for the evolution of male genital complexity proposes that genital traits evolve in response to post-insemination sexual selection; that is, via cryptic female choice or sperm competition. Here, we describe a laser ablation technique for high-precision manipulation of microscale body parts of insects, and employ it to discern the adaptive function of a rapidly evolving and taxonomically important genital trait: the intromittent claw-like genital spines of male Drosophila bipectinata Duda. We demonstrate experimentally and unambiguously that the genital spines of this species function to mechanically couple the genitalia together.

Acute renal failure in the State of Qatar: presentation and outcome.

Despite major improvements in health care, acute renal failure is still one of the main prognostic factors in terms of patient mortality and long-term morbidity. This cohort prospective study to evaluate the patterns and outcomes of renal failure in Qatar was performed between January and June 2005. Of the 213 patients followed prospectively from referral to the end of their hospitalization, 66.

The place of ultrasound in urogynaecology clinic.

Urinary incontinence is a silent epidemic severely affecting the quality of life of women. Clinical assessment alone has been shown to be an ineffective way of assessing women with lower urinary tract dysfunction; hence, there is a need for urodynamic studies. Nevertheless, urodynamics cannot explain all the symptoms and is not always available.

Demographic data and hemodialysis population dynamics in Qatar: A five year survey.

Hemodialysis was initiated in Qatar in 1981, since then the hemodialysis population has been expanding rapidly. This report describes the demographics and outcome of our hemodialysis patients during a five years study period. Data of all the patients on regular hemodialysis from January 1 st , 2002 to December 31 st , 2006 were included in this study was collected from the medical records and entered into an especially designed questionnaire.

Studies on three species of the genus Cystocephalus Schneider, 1886 (Apicomplexa: Eugregarinida: Stylocephalidae) with special reference to host specificity and distribution of members of family Stylocephalidae in Egypt.

Three species belonging to genus Cystocephalus, Schneider 1886 were found parasitizing three coleoptra hosts. Out of 105 Blaps polychresta, only one male was infected with C. algerianus and females were parasites free.

Duodenal MALT lymphoma presenting with obstructive jaundice: report of a case and review of the literature.

Background: Mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) lymphoma is a rare type of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The most common site for MALT lymphoma is the stomach.

Case Report: We are reporting a case of a 57-year-old man who presented with obstructive jaundice and was found to have duodenal MALT lymphoma.

Ectoparasite resistance is correlated with reduced host egg hatch rate in the Drosophila-Macrocheles system.

We test for fitness costs of resistance in a natural host-parasite system, involving Drosophila nigrospiracula and ectoparasitic mites, Macrocheles subbadius. We contrasted rates of mortality at embryonic and pupal stages of host ontogeny between replicate-resistant and -susceptible (control) lines at different temperatures (24, 28, and 34 degrees C). Evidence for a cost of resistance was shown as a 17% overall reduction in egg hatch rate in replicate-resistant lines, although this effect was heterogeneous across replicate selection experiments.

A new parasitic metacercaria from the land snail Monacha obstructa pfeiffer1842 with critical review on relevant metacercariae belonging to the genus Brachylaima Dujardin 1843.

Out of 328 specimens of the land snail Monacha obstructa, 105 (32%) were infected with a new metacercaria belonging to the genus Brachylaima Dujardin 1843. The present snail is considered as a new host for this parasite in Egypt. Morphological and morphometric patterns were elucidated.

[Late postinfarction rupture of the interventricular septum].

Unlabelled: Postinfarction ventricular septal rupture complicates 1 to 2% of cases of acute myocardial infarction and accounts for 5% of early mortality. This severe complication usually occurs within two weeks after acute myocardial infarction, and the elderly are more susceptible. We present a case of late rupture of the septum.

[Endoscopic harvesting of saphenous vein during coronary artery bypass operations].

Unlabelled: The great saphenous vein is the most commonly applied conduit in coronary bypass surgery during the treatment of ischaemic heart disease. Regarding the increasing age of patients, multiple comorbid factors and poor patient's general state, the minimally invasive approach is of basic significance during these operations.

Objectives: The aim of study was to evaluate the possibilities of endoscopic saphenous vein harvesting and the quality of saphenous veins harvested endoscopically.

Acute renal failure: six months pilot study in qatar.

Over a period of six months, 55 patients out of 11,216 (0.49%) admitted to the hospital developed acute renal failure (ARF). The diagnosis of ARF was based on the usual criteria, a sudden rise in blood urea nitrogen and creatinine with or without oliguria.

Spatial shifts of the conjugate beam generated by a nondegenerate photorefractive phase-conjugate mirror.

We demonstrate that the phase conjugation of a beam during nondegenerate four-wave mixing is accompanied by a spatial shift relative to the degenerate conjugate-beam location. Experiments with a photorefractive phase-conjugate mirror reveal that the phase-conjugate beam shifts have a nonmonotonic dependence on the probe's detuning frequency and comprise both lateral displacements of up to 218 mum and angular tilts of up to 34 arc sec. An approximate theory based on spatial dispersion coefficients is in partial agreement with the experimental results.

Bacteremia in febrile children under 3 years of age in an emergency department of a university hospital.

Objective: To review the results of blood culture in febrile children seen in the pediatric emergency department over a 3 year period.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted in the Pediatric Emergency Department, King Abdul-Aziz University Hospital between January 2001 and December 2003 on 2929 highly febrile children (temperature > or =39.5 degrees C), aged 2-36 months whose blood culture results were evaluated.