Examining Race-Related Error in Two-Compartment Models of Body Composition Assessment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: The Brozek and Siri formulas estimate relative adiposity (%Fat) from total body density (D) using a 2-compartment (2C) model. Racial/ethnic differences in D have been reported, along with subsequent errors in estimated %Fat.

Objective: The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to examine potential race/ethnic differences in the accuracy of the Brozek and Siri 2C formulas using aggregate-level data.

Virulence factor-activity relationships: workshop summary.

The concept or notion of virulence factor-activity relationships (VFAR) is an approach for identifying an analogous process to the use of qualitative structure-activity relationships (QSAR) for identifying new microbial contaminants. In QSAR, it is hypothesized that, for new chemical contaminants, their potential acute or chronic toxicity may be reasonably estimated on the basis of structural relationships to other known toxic contaminants. Thus the parallel that is being attempted for pathogenic microorganisms is that known virulence factors may be used as predictors for identifying undiscovered pathogens and microbial causes of emerging diseases.

Multiple treatment algorithms for successful outcomes in venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Background: We sought to determine the outcomes in patients presenting with venous thoracic outlet syndrome.

Methods: Prospectively collected data from 67 patients between October 2003 and December 2007. The average age was 31 years (range, 16-54); the 37 males and 30 females presented on average 9.

Surgical intervention for thoracic outlet syndrome improves patient's quality of life.

Objective: To assess long-term quality of life outcomes in patients following transaxillary first-rib resection and scalenectomy for thoracic outlet syndrome (TOS).

Methods: This was a prospective observational study using the Short-Form 12 (SF-12) and Disability of Arm, Hand, and Shoulder (DASH) instruments between February 2005 and March 2008 in patients with TOS presenting to an academic medical center for preoperative surgical evaluation after failing physical therapy protocol. Surveys were conducted preoperatively and then again at 3, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months after surgery.

First rib resection and scalenectomy for chronically occluded subclavian veins: what does it really do?

First rib resection and scalenectomy is an acceptable therapy for those with axillosubclavian vein thrombosis who have responded to lytic therapy and demonstrated subclavian vein patency. However, the treatment for those patients who present with a chronically occluded subclavian vein is controversial. We present four such patients who underwent first rib resection and scalenectomy and whose subclavian vein spontaneously opened within the first year following surgery while anticoagulated, as well as the ultrasound protocol we employ at our institution to identify such reopening.

UV inactivation of Cryptosporidium hominis as measured in cell culture.

The Cryptosporidium spp. UV disinfection studies conducted to date have used Cryptosporidium parvum oocysts. However, Cryptosporidium hominis predominates in human cryptosporidiosis infections, so there is a critical need to assess the efficacy of UV disinfection of C.

Diversity of nitrifying bacteria in full-scale chloraminated distribution systems.

Chloramination for secondary disinfection of drinking water often promotes the growth of nitrifying bacteria in the distribution system due to the ammonia introduced by chloramine formation and decay. This study involved the application of molecular biology techniques to explore the types of ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) and nitrite-oxidizing bacteria (NOB) present in several full-scale chloraminated systems. The results of AOB community characterization indicated the ubiquitous detection of representatives from the Nitrosomonas genus, with Nitrosospira constituting a negligible or small fraction of the AOB community in all but one sample.

Comparison of in vitro cell culture and a mouse assay for measuring infectivity of Cryptosporidium parvum.

In vitro cell cultures were compared to neonatal mice for measuring the infectivity of five genotype 2 isolates of Cryptosporidium parvum. Oocyst doses were enumerated by flow cytometry and delivered to animals and cell monolayers by using standardized procedures. Each dose of oocysts was inoculated into up to nine replicates of 9 to 12 mice or 6 to 10 cell culture wells.

Genotyping Cryptosporidium parvum with an hsp70 single-nucleotide polymorphism microarray.

We investigated the application of an oligonucleotide microarray to (i) specifically detect Cryptosporidium spp., (ii) differentiate between closely related C. parvum isolates and Cryptosporidium species, and (iii) differentiate between principle genotypes known to infect humans.

Development of a Molecular Method for the Detection of Enteric Viruses in Oysters.

Detection of enteric virus contamination of shellfish is limited by current methodology, which is time-consuming, tedious, and lacking in sensitivity due to reliance on cell culture infectivity. Alternative detection methods based on nucleic acid amplification have been hampered by high sample volumes and the presence of enzymatic inhibitors. The goal of this study was to develop methods to purify and concentrate intact virions from oyster extracts to a volume and quality compatible with viral genomic nucleic acid amplification by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR).