Assessing population immunity in a persistently high-risk area for wild poliovirus transmission in India: a serological study in Moradabad, Western Uttar Pradesh.

Background: Moradabad district in Uttar Pradesh reported the highest number of paralytic polio cases in India during 2001-2007. We conducted a study in Moradabad in 2007 to assess seroprevalence against poliovirus types 1, 2, and 3 in children 6-12 and 36-59 months of age to guide future strategies to interrupt wild poliovirus transmission in high-risk areas.

Methods: Children attending 10 health facilities for minor illnesses who met criteria for study inclusion were eligible for enrollment.

Gadolinium oxide nanoplates with high longitudinal relaxivity for magnetic resonance imaging.

Molecular-based contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are often characterized by insufficient relaxivity, thus requiring the systemic injection of high doses to induce sufficient contrast enhancement at the target site. In this work, gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) nanoplates are produced via a thermal decomposition method. The nanoplates have a core diameter varying from 2 to 22 nm, a thickness of 1 to 2 nm and are coated with either an oleic acid bilayer or an octylamine modified poly(acrylic acid) (PAA-OA) polymer layer.

Impact of resident surgeons on procedure length based on common pediatric otolaryngology cases.

Objectives/hypothesis: Surgical education remains an important mission of academic medical centers. Financial pressures may favor improved operating room (OR) efficiency at the expense of teaching in the OR. We aim to evaluate factors, such as resident participation, associated with duration of total OR, as well as procedural time of common pediatric otolaryngologic cases.

Small-angle X-ray scattering reveals compact domain-domain interactions in the N-terminal region of filamin C.

Filamins are multi-domain, actin cross-linking, and scaffolding proteins. In addition to the actin cross-linking function, filamins have a role in mechanosensor signaling. The mechanosensor function is mediated by domain-domain interaction in the C-terminal region of filamins.

Proton radiation therapy for the treatment of retinoblastoma.

Purpose: To investigate long-term disease and toxicity outcomes for pediatric retinoblastoma patients treated with proton radiation therapy (PRT).

Methods And Materials: This is a retrospective analysis of 49 retinoblastoma patients (60 eyes) treated with PRT between 1986 and 2012.

Results: The majority (84%) of patients had bilateral disease, and nearly half (45%) had received prior chemotherapy.

High serum level of matrix metalloproteinase 9 and promoter polymorphism - 1562 C:T as a new risk factor for metabolic syndrome.

The altered matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) have been suggested in the pathophysiology of metabolic syndrome (MetS). Genetic variants in the promoter region of MMP1 and MMP9 genes may modulate an individual's susceptibility to MetS. The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of MMP1 -519 A:G and MMP9 -1562 C:T polymorphisms and the correlation with serum levels of MMP1 and MMP9 in MetS susceptibility.

Efficacy of multi-detector coronary computed tomography angiography in comparison with exercise electrocardiogram in the triage of patients of low risk acute chest pain.

Objectives: To compare the safety and diagnostic efficacy of coronary computed tomography angiography (CTA) with exercise electrocardiography (XECG) in triaging patients of low risk acute chest pain.

Background: Noninvasive assessment of coronary stenosis by CTA may improve early and accurate triage of patients presenting with acute chest pain to the emergency department (ED).

Methods: Low risk patients of possible acute coronary syndrome (ACS) were included in the study.

Polio eradication. Efficacy of inactivated poliovirus vaccine in India.

Inactivated poliovirus vaccine (IPV) is efficacious against paralytic disease, but its effect on mucosal immunity is debated. We assessed the efficacy of IPV in boosting mucosal immunity. Participants received IPV, bivalent 1 and 3 oral poliovirus vaccine (bOPV), or no vaccine.

Epidemiological survey of head and neck injuries and trauma in the United States.

Objective: Head and neck trauma results in a range of injuries, spanning minor lacerations to life-threatening airway compromise. Few studies provide in-depth analysis of injuries to the head and neck (HN). We aim to (1) describe HN injury prevalence in the US and (2) investigate patient disposition and the outcome of mortality.

Inside money, procyclical leverage, and banking catastrophes.

We explore a model of the interaction between banks and outside investors in which the ability of banks to issue inside money (short-term liabilities believed to be convertible into currency at par) can generate a collapse in asset prices and widespread bank insolvency. The banks and investors share a common belief about the future value of certain long-term assets, but they have different objective functions; changes to this common belief result in portfolio adjustments and trade. Positive belief shocks induce banks to buy risky assets from investors, and the banks finance those purchases by issuing new short-term liabilities.

Pore-scale simulation of fluid flow and solute dispersion in three-dimensional porous media.

In the present work fluid flow and solute transport through porous media are described by solving the governing equations at the pore scale with finite-volume discretization. Instead of solving the simplified Stokes equation (very often employed in this context) the full Navier-Stokes equation is used here. The realistic three-dimensional porous medium is created in this work by packing together, with standard ballistic physics, irregular and polydisperse objects.

Market competition influences renal transplantation risk and outcomes.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of market competition on patient mortality and graft failure after kidney transplantation.

Background: Kidneys are initially allocated within 58 donation service areas (DSAs), which have varying numbers of transplant centers. Market competition is generally considered beneficial.

Subspecialty emergency room as alternative model for otolaryngologic care: implications for emergency health care delivery.

Purpose: A dedicated otolaryngology emergency room (ER) represents a specialized surgical evaluation and treatment setting that may be an alternative triage pathway for acute otolaryngologic complaints. We aim to characterize practice patterns in this setting and to provide insight into the epidemiology of all-comer, urgent otolaryngologic complaints in the United States.

Methods And Methods: Electronic medical records were reviewed for all patients who registered for otolaryngologic care and received a diagnosis in the Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary ER between January 2011 and September 2013.

Guar gum solutions for improved delivery of iron particles in porous media (part 1): porous medium rheology and guar gum-induced clogging.

The present work is the first part of a comprehensive study on the use of guar gum to improve delivery of microscale zero-valent iron particles in contaminated aquifers. Guar gum solutions exhibit peculiar shear thinning properties, with high viscosity in static conditions and lower viscosity in dynamic conditions: this is beneficial both for the storage of MZVI dispersions, and also for the injection in porous media. In the present paper, the processes associated with guar gum injection in porous media are studied performing single-step and multi-step filtration tests in sand-packed columns.

Guar gum solutions for improved delivery of iron particles in porous media (part 2): iron transport tests and modeling in radial geometry.

In the present work column transport tests were performed in order to study the mobility of guar-gum suspensions of microscale zero-valent iron particles (MZVI) in porous media. The results were analyzed with the purpose of implementing a radial model for the design of full scale interventions. The transport tests were performed using several concentrations of shear thinning guar gum solutions as stabilizer (1.

Olfactory ensheathing cells promote differentiation of neural stem cells and robust neurite extension.

Aims: The goal of this study was to gain insight into the signaling between olfactory ensheathing cells (OECs) and neural stem cells (NSCs). We sought to understand the impact of OECs on NSC differentiation and neurite extension and to begin to elucidate the factors involved in these interactions to provide new targets for therapeutic interventions.

Materials And Methods: We utilized lines of OECs that have been extremely well characterized in vitro and in vivo along with well studied NSCs in gels to determine the impact of the coculture in three dimensions.

Field assessment of guar gum stabilized microscale zerovalent iron particles for in-situ remediation of 1,1,1-trichloroethane.

A pilot injection test with guar gum stabilized microscale zerovalent iron (mZVI) particles was performed at test site V (Belgium) where different chlorinated aliphatic hydrocarbons (CAHs) were present as pollutants in the subsurface. One hundred kilograms of 56μm-diameter mZVI (~70gL(-1)) was suspended in 1.5m(3) of guar gum (~7gL(-1)) solution and injected into the test area.

Impact of obstructive sleep apnea on cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention: rationale and design of the sleep and stent study.

Elucidating the effects of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on cardiovascular outcomes is crucial in risk assessments and therapeutic recommendations for affected individuals. The Sleep and Stent Study is a multicenter observational study investigating the relationships between OSA and cardiovascular outcomes in patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Eight centers in 5 countries (Singapore, China and Hong Kong, India, Myanmar, and Brazil) are participating in the study, and the recruitment target is 1600 patients.

Geometrical confinement of Gd(DOTA) molecules within mesoporous silicon nanoconstructs for MR imaging of cancer.

Porous silicon has been used for the delivery of therapeutic and imaging agents in several biomedical applications. Here, mesoporous silicon nanoconstructs (SiMPs) with a discoidal shape and a sub-micrometer size (1000×400nm) have been conjugated with gadolinium-tetraazacyclododecane tetraacetic acid Gd(DOTA) molecules and proposed as contrast agents for Magnetic Resonance Imaging. The surface of the SiMPs with different porosities - small pore (SP: ∼5nm) and huge pore (HP: ∼40nm) - and of bulk, non-porous silica beads (1000nm in diameter) have been modified with covalently attached (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES) groups, conjugated with DOTA molecules, and reacted with an aqueous solution of GdCl3.

Primary tracheoesophageal puncture with supraclavicular artery island flap after total laryngectomy or laryngopharyngectomy.

The supraclavicular artery island flap (SCAIF) is increasingly employed for laryngectomy reconstruction with excellent success. Although tracheoesophageal puncture (TEP) with intraoperative prosthesis placement is also positively reported, this is not described in patients following SCAIF. We review our experience with primary TEP with prosthesis placement and voice outcomes in patients after SCAIF reconstruction.

Otolaryngology-specific emergency room as a model for resident training.

Objectives/hypothesis: There is a paucity of data on junior resident training in common otolaryngology procedures such as ear debridement, nasal and laryngeal endoscopy, epistaxis management, and peritonsillar abscess drainage. These common procedures represent a critical aspect of training and are necessary skills in general otolaryngology practice. We sought to determine how a dedicated otolaryngology emergency room (ER) staffed by junior residents and a supervising attending provides exposure to common otolaryngologic procedures.

Pentology of Fallot's presenting with complete heart block.

A 17-year-old male patient presented with cyanosis, repeated squatting since childhood and haemoptysis since the past 1 month. He had central cyanosis with clubbing. Cardiovasular examination revealed ejection systolic murmur in the pulmonary area with single S2.

Measles case fatality rate in Bihar, India, 2011-12.

Background: Updated estimates of measles case fatality rates (CFR) are critical for monitoring progress towards measles elimination goals. India accounted for 36% of total measles deaths occurred globally in 2011. We conducted a retrospective cohort study to estimate measles CFR and identify the risk factors for measles death in Bihar-one of the north Indian states historically known for its low vaccination coverage.

Women's experience with postpartum intrauterine contraceptive device use in India.

Background: Postpartum intrauterine contraceptive devices (PPIUCD) are increasingly included in many national postpartum family planning (PPFP) programs, but satisfaction of women who have adopted PPIUCD and complication rates need further characterization. Our specific aims were to describe women who accepted PPIUCD, their experience and satisfaction with their choice, and complication of expulsion or infection.

Methods: We studied 2,733 married women, aged 15-49 years, who received PPIUCD in sixteen health facilities, located in eight states and the national capital territory of India, at the time of IUCD insertion and six weeks later.