Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentrations are associated with prevalence of metabolic syndrome and various cardiometabolic risk factors in US children and adolescents based on assay-adjusted serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D data from NHANES 2001-2006.

Background: The effect of assay drifts over time on serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] concentrations were not accounted for in previous national survey studies. Thus, previously reported associations between 25(OH)D with cardiometabolic risk factors using data from NHANES were likely over- or underestimated. Moreover, associations between serum 25(OH)D and metabolic syndrome (MetSyn), insulin resistance (IR), and inflammation are unclear in children.

Discovery of a potent and selective small molecule hGPR91 antagonist.

GPR91, a 7TM G-Protein-Coupled Receptor, has been recently deorphanized with succinic acid as its endogenous ligand. Current literature indicates that GPR91 plays role in various pathophysiology including renal hypertension, autoimmune disease and retinal angiogenesis. Starting from a small molecule high-throughput screening hit 1 (hGPR91 IC(50): 0.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva.

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder of the connective tissue characterized by progressive disability as a result of extensive extra skeletal enchondral bone formation and malformed big toes which are often monophalangic. Occasional features include short thumbs, fifth finger clinodactyly, malformed cervical vertebrae and mild mental retardation. Beginning during childhood, FOP progressively immobilizes all the joints through adult life, rendering movement impossible.

Carbohydrate mimetics and scaffolds: sweet spots in medicinal chemistry.

Several glycoprocessing enzymes and glycoreceptors have been recognized as important targets for therapeutic intervention. This concept has inspired the development of important classes of therapeutics, such as anti-influenza drugs inhibiting influenza virus neuraminidase, anti-inflammatory drugs targeting lectin-sialyl-Lewis X interaction and glycosidase inhibitors against HIV, Gaucher's disease, hepatitis and cancer. These therapeutics are mainly carbohydrate mimics in which proper modifications permit stronger interactions with the target protein, higher stability, better pharmacokinetic properties and easier synthesis.

Pattern of presentation and management of ca breast in developing countries. There is a lot to do.

Objective: To investigate the pattern of presentation, severity, factors responsible for delayed presentation and outcome of breast cancer in patients presenting to a teaching hospital of Jamshoro.

Methods: It's a prospective descriptive study of 103 malignant breast lumps treated at a tertiary care teaching hospital over a period of 8 years. All patients were admitted through Outpatients department and were thoroughly examined and investigated.

Vitamin D deficiency in fibromyalgia.

Objective: To check the Vitamin D levels in patients diagnosed as fibromyagia in our population.

Methods: Study was done at Medical OPD of Civil Hospital Karachi, from January to March 2009. Female patients diagnosed as Fibromyalgia according to American College of Rheumatology (ACR) criteria and exclusion of systemic illness on examination, and normal reports of blood CP, ESR, serum calcium, phosphate and Alkaline Phosphatase, were asked to get Vitamin D levels in their serum.

Proinflammatory fecal mRNA and childhood bacterial enteric infections.

INTRODUCTION: Assessment of specific mRNAs in human samples is useful in characterizing disease. However, mRNA in human stool has been understudied. RESULTS: Compared to controls, infected stools showed increased transcripts of IL-1β, IL-8 and calprotectin.

Treatment of acute otitis media in children under 2 years of age.

Background: Recommendations vary regarding immediate antimicrobial treatment versus watchful waiting for children younger than 2 years of age with acute otitis media.

Methods: We randomly assigned 291 children 6 to 23 months of age, with acute otitis media diagnosed with the use of stringent criteria, to receive amoxicillin-clavulanate or placebo for 10 days. We measured symptomatic response and rates of clinical failure.

Acute otitis media severity of symptom score in a tympanocentesis study.

We followed symptoms of children with acute otitis media (AOM), who were enrolled in a clinical trial that included a baseline tympanocentesis. We observed marked and rapid improvement in symptom scores after tympanocentesis. Although symptom scores (measured by the AOM-SOS) correlated with overall clinical assessment and bacteriologic outcome, the early effect of tympanocentesis rendered the AOM-SOS less useful as a primary outcome measure.

Decongestants, antihistamines and nasal irrigation for acute sinusitis in children.

Background: The efficacy of decongestants, antihistamines and nasal irrigation in children with clinically diagnosed acute sinusitis has not been systematically evaluated.

Objectives: To systematically review the efficacy of decongestants, antihistamines and nasal irrigation in children with clinically diagnosed acute sinusitis. We considered the following four interventions: 1) decongestants versus placebo or no medication, 2) antihistamines versus placebo or no medication, 3) decongestant and antihistamine combination versus placebo or no medication, 4) nasal irrigation versus no irrigation.

Pneumococcal resistance and serotype 19A in Pittsburgh-area children with acute otitis media before and after introduction of 7-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine.

Methods: Before and after introduction of pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV7), the authors obtained nasopharyngeal (NP) specimens from 3 groups of children aged 6 to 23 months with acute otitis media (AOM): group 1 (pre-PCV7), group 2 (early post-PCV7), and group 3 (late post-PCV7).

Results: Of the Streptococcus pneumoniae isolates, the proportion that were vaccine serotypes (VTs) declined progressively (60.4% vs 48.

Pain management in young children undergoing diagnostic tympanocentesis.

Objective: To describe the pain associated with diagnostic tympanocentesis and to gather preliminary data comparing the efficacy of 3 methods of pain reduction for tympanocentesis.

Methods: In children 6 to 36 months of age undergoing tympanocentesis for acute otitis media, the authors measured pain and distress throughout all phases of the procedure and recovery using physiological (heart rate) and behavioral measures (cry duration, Global Mood Scale score, and pain visual analog scales). They compared--in a randomized controlled trial--3 pain reduction interventions: acetaminophen, acetaminophen plus codeine, and ibuprofen plus midazolam.

An unusual case of left ventricular aneurysm in duchenne muscular dystrophy.

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) leads to structural heart disease, including dilated cardiomyopathy, in 90% of patients >18 years of age. Despite the ubiquity of cardiomyopathy associated with DMD, ventricular aneurysms in these patients have rarely been reported. We present a case of a basal inferoposterior aneurysm of the left ventricle in a 23-year-old male patient with DMD.

Acid aspiration prophylaxis during anaesthesia for caesarean section: a survey among anaesthetists at Hyderabad.

Background: Pulmonary aspiration of gastric contents leading to acid aspiration syndrome (AAS) is a well recognized risk factor during general anaesthesia (GA) for Caesarean section (CS). The cross sectional observational study was conducted during July 2008 to October 2008 at Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care, Liaquat University of Medical & Health Sciences Jamshoro, Sindh, Pakistan. The objective was to assess anaesthetic practice patterns and measures to prevent aspiration of acid gastric contents in full-term pregnant women undergoing anaesthesia for Caesarean section.

Risk of renal scarring in children with a first urinary tract infection: a systematic review.

Background: To our knowledge, the risk of renal scarring in children with a urinary tract infection (UTI) has not been systematically studied.

Objective: To review the prevalence of acute and chronic renal imaging abnormalities in children after an initial UTI.

Methods: We searched Medline and Embase for English-, French-, and Spanish-language articles using the following terms: "Technetium (99m)Tc dimercaptosuccinic acid (DMSA)," "DMSA," "dimercaptosuccinic," "scintigra*," "pyelonephritis," and "urinary tract infection.

Displaced intracapsular fracture complicating transient osteopoenia of the hip in pregnancy: timing of surgery.

A patient who presented with a displaced subcapital fracture of the proximal femur in her third trimester of pregnancy is reported. Following delivery of the baby with an emergency caesarean section, the fracture was immediately reduced and fixed using cannulated screws. The outcome of her fracture management for this rare condition is discussed.

Ultrasonic assisted Fischer glycosylation: generating diversity for glycochemistry.

In this study ultrasound has been utilised for the Fischer glycosylation using free sugars and sulphuric acid immobilized on silica as catalyst. N-acetyl-D-glucosamine, N-acetyl-D-galactosamine, D-glucose, D-galactose, D-mannose, L-fucose, and lactose were glycosylated with propargyl alcohol or 2-azidoethanol affording the corresponding glycosides, with the production of the α-glycopyranoside as the dominant product. Remarkable acceleration of the glycosylation reactions (15 min-2 h compared to several hours) over reported procedures together with good yields were always observed.

Fatal dialysis disequilibrium syndrome: A tale of two patients.

Unlabelled: Dialysis disequilibrium syndrome (DDS) is a central nervous system disorder, which occurs during hemodialysis (HD) or within 24 h following the first HD. DDS commonly occurs in patients suffering from end-stage renal failure undergoing HD for the first time. In a critically ill patient suffering from severe sepsis or septic shock, the combined effects of post-HD brain edema and changes in the brain due to septic encephalopathy, may become amplified leading to DDS.

Tension pneumocephalus as complication of burr-hole drainage of chronic subdural hematoma: A case report.

Background: Pneumocephalus is the presence of air in the cranial cavity. When this intracranial air causes increased intracranial pressure and leads to neurological deterioration, it is known as tension pneumocephalus (TP). TP can be a major life-threatening postoperative complication, especially after evacuation of chronic subdural hematoma.

Prevalence of streptococcal pharyngitis and streptococcal carriage in children: a meta-analysis.

Objectives: Prevalence estimates can help clinicians make informed decisions regarding diagnostic testing of children who present with symptoms of pharyngitis. We conducted a meta-analysis to determine the (1) prevalence of streptococcal infection among children who presented with sore throat and (2) prevalence of streptococcal carriage among asymptomatic children.

Methods: We searched Medline for articles on pediatric streptococcal pharyngitis.

Further evidence of constrained radiation in the evolution of pathogenic Escherichia coli O157:H7.

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a human pathogen that has emerged from its less pathogenic progenitor, E. coli O55:H7, to form the EHEC 1 clade. In its emergence, E.