Microbial communities in dark oligotrophic volcanic ice cave ecosystems of Mt. Erebus, Antarctica.

The Earth's crust hosts a subsurface, dark, and oligotrophic biosphere that is poorly understood in terms of the energy supporting its biomass production and impact on food webs at the Earth's surface. Dark oligotrophic volcanic ecosystems (DOVEs) are good environments for investigations of life in the absence of sunlight as they are poor in organics, rich in chemical reactants and well known for chemical exchange with Earth's surface systems. Ice caves near the summit of Mt.

Calcification associated with the nasolacrimal system of a horse: case report and mineralogic composition.

A 12-year-old Paso Fino mare was evaluated for a chronic nasal and ocular discharge. A calcification was identified eroding through the nasal mucosa of the middle meatus. Differential considerations for this mass included dacryolith, nasal calculus, or calcified tooth root abscess.

Mandibular dimensions in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

Objective: We hypothesized that mandibular size may play a role in the etiology of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) in children, since a smaller mandible may reduce airway size. We used magnetic resonance imaging to determine the mandible dimensions of children with OSAS.

Design: Case control study.

Meta analysis of the treatment-related factors of external apical root resorption.

Objective: To elucidate possible treatment-related etiological factors--such as, duration of treatment and apical displacement--for external root resorption.

Design: Meta-analysis of the available English-language literature.

Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria: Papers with a sample size > 10, fixed appliances, pre- and post-operative radiographs, and apical displacement recorded were included.

Elemental composition of teeth with and without odontoclastic resorption lesions in cats.

Objective: To determine elemental composition of teeth with and without odontoclastic resorption lesions (ORL) in cats.

Sample Population: Normal teeth from 22 cadaver cats and ORLaffected teeth from 21 cats admitted to the veterinary hospital for dental treatment.

Procedure: An electron microprobe was used to analyze weight percentages of calcium, phosphorus, fluorine, sodium, magnesium, sulfur, potassium, and iron in enamel, dentin, and cementum.

Maxillary expansion: a meta analysis.

The utility of maxillary expansion has been equivocal for more than 100 years. The advent of meta-analysis and evidence-based learning has provided an opportunity to look objectively at this treatment modality. Medline was searched from 1978 to 1999 for all studies examining the stability of transverse expansion of the human maxilla using initial search terms of maxillary expansion and palatal expansion which were limited to those English language and human subjects.

Petrographic and geochemic evaluation of equine enteroliths.

Objective: To characterize the texture, mineralogic features, and chemical features of enteroliths obtained from horses.

Sample Population: Enteroliths from 13 horses with colic.

Procedure: Enteroliths were harvested from 13 horses that underwent ventral midline celiotomy for treatment of colic or necropsy because of colonic obstruction and rupture caused by enteroliths.

Ultrastructure of selected calcium oxalate-containing urinary calculi from dogs.

Objective: To elucidate the ultrastructural details of calcium oxalate-containing urinary calculi from dogs. Sample Population-38 specimens selected from a collection of 8,297 oxalate-containing urinary calculi from dogs: 22 specimens composed of calcium oxalate (calcium oxalate monohydrate [COM], calcium oxalate dihydrate [COD], or COM and COD) and 16 specimens composed of calcium oxalate with amorphous calcium phosphate.

Procedure: Analyses of specimens included use of plain, reflected, and polarized light microscopy, X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with backscattered electron (BSE) imagery, and electron microprobe analysis.

Ultrastructure of selected struvite-containing urinary calculi from dogs.

Objective: To elucidate the ultrastructural details of struvite-containing urinary calculi from dogs.

Sample Population: 38 specimens were selected from a collection of approximately 13,000 canine urinary calculi: 18 of these were composed entirely of struvite, and 20 consisted of struvite and calcium phosphate (apatite).

Procedure: Qualitative and quantitative analyses of specimens included use of plain and polarized light microscopy, x-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy with backscattered electron imagery, x-ray fluorescence scans, and electron microprobe analysis.

The amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patient perspective on misdiagnosis and its repercussions.

We studied the rate of initial "misdiagnosis', along with factors than might distinguish such patients, in 64 patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) who completed a survey of 34 questions. Announcement of the survey was made by electronic newsletter and users group bulletin board directed at ALS patients. The questionnaire was distributed to interested ALS patients via electronic mail (e-mail), and 64 ALS patients (81% from the USA) returned their completed questionnaires via reply e-mail or postal mail.

Ultrastructure of selected struvite-containing urinary calculi from cats.

Objective: To elucidate the ultrastructural details of struvite-containing urinary calculi from cats.

Design: Specimens studied were inclusive of the range of textures visible during preliminary analysis by use of a stereoscopic dissecting microscope. Textural types, which were used to infer crystal growth conditions, were differentiated with regard to crystal habit, crystal size, growth orientation, and primary porosity.

Ultrastructure and mineral composition of urinary calculi from horses.

Urinary calculi from 17 horses with urolithiasis were examined to study their mineral content and ultrastructure. Among the analytic methods used were X-ray diffractometry, scanning electron microscopy, and electron microprobe analysis. The calculi initially were observed by use of a stereoscopic dissecting microscope and generally were found to have nodular surfaces surrounding a banded or granular-to-chalky interior.

Enterolithiasis in two zebras.

Enterolithiasis, as a cause of colic, was diagnosed and treated during surgical intervention in 2 Grant's zebras (Equus burchelli bohmi). The zebras were part of a wild herd in a zoo in the western United States. The clinical signs of enterolithiasis in both zebras were similar to those reported for horses.

Pulmonary function at diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Rate of deterioration.

The purpose of this study was to determine the degree of respiratory muscle impairment in patients with newly diagnosed amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and the subsequent rate of decline of respiratory function. Thirty-one of 36 patients had respiratory muscle weakness at presentation, although only 7 complained of any respiratory symptoms. Vital capacity (percent predicted) was significantly lower in the symptomatic group (55.

Upper airway dysfunction in olivopontocerebellar atrophy.

We report the findings in a patient known to have olivopontocerebellar atrophy who developed respiratory distress, inspiratory stridor, and maximum inspiratory and expiratory flow volume loops. Treatment with carbidopa-levodopa gave symptomatic relief.

Misdiagnosis in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

To confirm our impression that a high percentage of patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are initially misdiagnosed, we reviewed records of 33 patients with a definitive diagnosis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis seen over 10 years. Fourteen patients (43%) were initially misdiagnosed. Mean time to correct diagnosis was significantly greater for the misdiagnosed group (16.

Effect of inspiratory resistance and theophylline on respiratory muscle strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

The effect of breathing through inspiratory flow resistive loads ranging between 4.5 and 27.0 cm H2O/L/s was assessed in eight patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and in eight control subjects.

Arterial oxygen saturation during Nd:YAG laser photoresection of endobronchial tumors under local anesthesia. Use of intermittent supplemental oxygen with pulse oximetry guidance.

Although Nd:YAG laser photoresection of endobronchial lung tumor can result in significant arterial oxygen desaturation, oxygen supplementation during procedures is often limited due to fear of intrabronchial combustion. We gave intermittent pulse supplemental oxygen to ten patients during 26 laser procedures performed under local anesthesia using SaO2 measured by a pulse oximeter as a guide. In four procedures (15.

Apnea testing in brain death.

A standardized protocol was followed in 33 apneic oxygenation tests on 20 patients suspected of being brain dead. Spontaneous respiratory movements developed in just one patient; this patient was the only one who did not show electrocerebral silence on electroencephalography. Significant hypoxemia, hypotension, or cardiac arrhythmias were not encountered despite lung disease in 14 of our 20 patients.

Sleep, sleep apnea and the fibromyalgia syndrome.

A patient who presented with primary fibromyalgia syndrome (PFS) was found to have sleep apnea. Since frequent wakening and nonrestorative sleep are prominent clinical complaints in both disorders, we hypothesized an etiologic relationship. A subsequent clinical survey of 11 additional sleep apneics revealed that 3 (27%) fulfilled proposed criteria for PFS.