Coverage of motor vehicle crashes with injuries in U.S. newspapers, 1999-2002.

Problem: The aims of the study were to evaluate information on motor-vehicle crashes with injuries provided in newspaper reports and to assess the frequency of thematic and episodic reporting of motor-vehicle crashes.

Method: The study used Fatal Analysis Reporting System (FARS) derived variables to code a nationally representative sample of U.S.

A decrease in retinal progenitor cells is associated with early features of diabetic retinopathy in a model that combines diabetes and hypertension.

Purpose: Hyperglycemia and hypertension contribute to the development of diabetic retinopathy, and this may involve alterations in the normal retinal cell cycle. In this work, we examined the influence of diabetes and hypertension on retinal cell replication in vivo and the relationship between these changes and several early markers of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods: Diabetes was induced with streptozotocin in 4- and 12-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their Wistar Kyoto (WKY) controls.

Modelling of image-catheter motion for 3-D IVUS.

Three-dimensional intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) allows to visualize and obtain volumetric measurements of coronary lesions through an exploration of the cross sections and longitudinal views of arteries. However, the visualization and subsequent morpho-geometric measurements in IVUS longitudinal cuts are subject to distortion caused by periodic image/vessel motion around the IVUS catheter. Usually, to overcome the image motion artifact ECG-gating and image-gated approaches are proposed, leading to slowing the pullback acquisition or disregarding part of IVUS data.

Intestinal parasitism in the animals of the zoological garden "Peña Escrita" (Almuñecar, Spain).

Gastrointestinal parasites cause serious diarrhoea in captive animals. Therefore, we have undertaken this study to establish programmes to prevent, control, and treat intestinal parasitism in the animals of the zoological garden "Peña Escrita" of Almuñecar (Granada). An annual survey was conduced to estimate the occurrence of gastrointestinal parasites and the seasonality of this parasitism.

Prevalence of enteroparasites and genotyping of Giardia lamblia in Peruvian children.

Enteroparasites in children from three marginal urban districts of Trujillo (Peru) were studied to treat these children and to design a prevention and control programme. A total of 845 children were examined. The general prevalence of enteroparasites was of 66.

Endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene single-nucleotide polymorphism predicts cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage.

Vasospasm is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH). Studies have shown a link between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and the incidence of coronary spasm and aneurysms. Alterations in the eNOS T-786 SNP may lead to an increased risk of post-aSAH cerebral vasospasm.

More productive in vitro culture of Cryptosporidium parvum for better study of the intra- and extracellular phases.

The great difficulties in treating people and animals suffering from cryptosporidiosis have prompted the development of in vitro experimental models. Due to the models of in vitro culture, new extracellular stages of Cryptosporidium have been demonstrated. The development of these extracellular phases depends on the technique of in vitro culture and on the species and genotype of Cryptosporidium used.

A genome-wide set of congenic mouse strains derived from CAST/Ei on a C57BL/6 background.

We previously reported the construction of two sets of heterozygous congenic strains spanning the mouse genome. For both sets, C57BL/6J was employed as the background strain while DNA from either DBA/2 or CAST/Ei was introgressed to form the congenic region. We have subsequently bred most of these strains to produce homozygous breeding stocks.

The relationship between campus diversity, students' ethnic identity and college adjustment: a qualitative study.

The present study was a qualitative exploration into the meaning of ethnic identity and its association with college adjustment in students attending ethnically diverse university campuses. The sample consisted of 103 participants recruited from 2 ethnically diverse universities in southern California. A constant comparative analysis of the interview data revealed 9 themes as being relevant to students' experiences of ethnicity within a multiethnic campus that reflect both the positive aspects and the negative aspects associated with campus diversity.

Newspaper coverage of injuries affecting the Spanish surname population in two counties in Colorado.

The present study assessed newspaper reports of injuries affecting individuals with Spanish surnames and compared newspaper reports to hospital injury discharge data in two counties in Colorado. Newspaper reports came from 12 daily and weekly newspapers. Hospital discharge data were obtained from the Colorado Department of Public Health and the Environment.

Multislice CT coronary angiography for the detection of burden, morphology and distribution of atherosclerotic plaques in the left main bifurcation.

The aim of the study was to explore the differences in plaque burden at different segments of the left main bifurcation and its relationship with the bifurcation angle using high-resolution multislice CT coronary angiography (MSCT). Patients were evaluated using a 40-row MSCT scanner. One observer assessed the localization, severity and distribution of plaques within the left main (LMCA) bifurcation, whereas another observer defined the angle.

Verrucous hyperplasia: a common and problematic finding in the high-risk diabetic foot.

Although verrucous hyperplasia may be common in high-risk insensitive feet, the literature contains little discussion on this topic. Treatment of verrucous hyperplasia is aimed primarily at reducing the causative forces. In cases that result from edema, external compression has proved to be adequate.

Do US veterans wear appropriately sized shoes?: the Veterans Affairs shoe size selection study.

Poorly fitting footwear has frequently been cited as an etiologic factor in the pathway to diabetic foot ulceration. However, we are unaware of any reports in the medical literature specifically measuring shoe size versus foot size in this high-risk population. We assessed the prevalence of poorly fitting footwear in individuals with and without diabetic foot ulceration.

Modified scan protocol using multislice CT coronary angiography allows high quality acquisitions in obese patients: a case report.

Nearly every cardiovascular functional imaging technique has difficulties in dealing with obese patients and MSCT-CA is not an exception. Excluding such large portion of the coronary population remains a grim limitation of the technique and requires thus a comprehensive re-evaluation. In this report, we show that excellent image quality could be achieved in a morbidly obese patient with the aid of proper management of scan protocols and bolus administration.

Application of multislice computed tomography coronary angiography for the diagnostic work-up of acute coronary syndromes.

Multislice computed tomography coronary angiography has evolved as an accurate tool to identify the extent, morphology and distribution of significant lesions in the coronary tree of selected patients. More recently, the indications to perform MSCT have been broadened and have been applied in experimented centers to improve the diagnostic work-up of patients admitted with acute coronary syndromes. We report a case were MSCT was applied to define the diagnosis and guide the therapy of a patient admitted with an acute coronary syndrome.

Gamma-irradiated human skin allograft: a potential treatment modality for lower extremity ulcers.

Gamma-irradiated human skin allograft consists of epidermis and dermis. Unlike bioengineered tissues which require cold storage and timely use once received from the manufacturer, gamma-irradiated human skin allograft can be stored for as long as 24 months at room temperature. This modality is applied in a fashion similar to that of bioengineered skin grafts.

Diterpenoid alkaloid derivatives as potential chemotherapeutic agents in American trypanosomiasis.

The use of natural products for the treatment of protozoal infections (Leishmania and Trypanosoma spp.) is well known and has been documented since ancient times. We have already established an in vitro culture system using mammalian host cells (Vero) infected with Trypanosoma cruzi in which the time course of parasite growth is determined quantitatively.

Grafting between tobacco plants to enhance salinity tolerance.

We analysed the technique of grafting as a tool to increase salt-stress resistance in tobacco plants. With this aim, we performed two experiments. First, we selected, from among 6 commercial tobacco cultivars (cv.

Iris yellow spot virus in Onion in Chile.

Iris yellow spot virus (IYSV) (genus Tospovirus, family Bunyaviridae) has become endemic in several parts of the world. Between 2000 and 2004, the virus was reported from several states in the United States and the most recent report was from Georgia (2). In South America, IYSV was first reported from Brazil (3).

Meta-analysis of the efficacy of ebastine 20 mg compared to loratadine 10 mg and placebo in the symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis.

Background: Few randomized studies have compared the efficacy of ebastine and loratadine in the symptomatic treatment of seasonal allergic rhinitis (SAR).

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed on data from four randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group clinical trials comparing the efficacy of ebastine 20 mg once daily versus loratadine 10 mg once daily in the symptomatic treatment of SAR symptoms. Primary efficacy variable was the mean change in the overall mean daily reflective total symptom score (TSS), i.

Objective quality of vision in presbyopic and non-presbyopic patients after pseudoaccommodative advanced surface ablation.

Purpose: To analyze the objective quality of vision at 6 months postoperatively after pseudoaccommodative (presbyopic) advanced surface ablation (PASA).

Methods: The study comprised 62 eyes of 35 patients with 6-month follow-up that underwent primary or secondary treatments using PASA. Pre- and postoperative results of distance and near uncorrected visual acuity (UCVA), spherical aberration (coefficient of the Z12 Zernike polynomial), and the asphericity (Q) index were reviewed.

Control of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis, a neglected disease: results of a control programme in Satipo Province, Peru.

Mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL) is an important health problem in many rural areas of Latin America, but there are few data on the results of programmatic approaches to control the disease. We report the results of a control programme in San Martin de Pangoa District, which reports one of the highest prevalences of MCL in Peru. For 2 years (2001--2002), the technicians at the health post were trained in patient case management, received medical support and were supplied with antimonials.

Weekly paclitaxel improves pathologic complete remission in operable breast cancer when compared with paclitaxel once every 3 weeks.

Purpose: To determine the impact a change in schedule of paclitaxel administration from once every 3 weeks to frequent administration would have on the pathologic complete response (pCR) rate in the breast and lymph nodes for patients with invasive breast cancer treated with primary systemic chemotherapy (PST).

Patients And Methods: Patients with clinical stage I-IIIA breast cancer were randomly assigned to receive PST of paclitaxel doses administered either weekly (for a total of 12 doses of paclitaxel) or once every 3 weeks (four cycles), followed by four cycles of fluorouracil/doxorubicin/cyclophosphamide (FAC) in standard doses every 3 weeks. Two different doses of paclitaxel were used based on lymph node status defined by ultrasound and fine needle aspiration.

A genome-wide set of congenic mouse strains derived from DBA/2J on a C57BL/6J background.

In the analysis of complex traits, congenic strains are powerful tools because they allow characterization of a single locus in the absence of genetic variation throughout the remainder of the genome. Here, we report the construction and initial characterization of a genome-wide panel of congenic strains derived from the donor strain DBA/2J on the background strain C57BL/6J. For many strains, we have carried out high-density SNP genotyping to precisely map the congenic interval and to identify any contaminating regions.