Erythema annulare centrifugum-like eruption associated with pegylated interferon treatment for hepatitis C.

Current standard of treatment for chronic hepatitis C virus infection requires the use of pegylated interferon plus ribavirin. Treatment with these two agents has been associated with numerous side effects, which frequently include dermatologic eruptions. We report a cutaneous eruption associated with interferon having clinical presentation of erythema annulare centrifugum.

Performance and determinants of routine immunization coverage within the context of intensive polio eradication activities in Uttar Pradesh, India: Social Mobilization Network (SM Net) and Core Group Polio Project (CGPP).

Background: Studies that have looked at the effect of polio eradication efforts in India on routine immunization programs have provided mixed findings. One polio eradication project, funded by US Agency for International Development (USAID) and carried out by the CORE Group Polio Project (CGPP) in the state of Uttar Pradesh of India, has included the strengthening of routine immunization systems as a core part of its polio eradication strategy. This paper explores the performance of routine immunization services in the CGPP intervention areas concurrent with intensive polio eradication activities.

On the nature of hypercoordination in dihalogenated perhalocyclohexasilanes.

Hypercoordination in silicon has long been reviewed. Dihalogenated perhalocyclohexasilane inverse sandwich complexes (ISCs) are the only group of hypercoordinate Si complexes with anion donors that contact six neutral silicon atoms; opening prospective applications in Si self-assembled nanostructures. Hypercoordinate bonds in 16 such ISCs were studied and their anion ring interactions have been understood with respect to halides.

Detection of inflammation and oxidative lung injury in exhaled breath condensate of rats with acute lung injury due to Staphylococcal enterotoxin B.

The objectives were to determine if tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, leukotriene (LT)B4 and 8-isoprostane (IP) were present in the exhaled breath condensate (EBC) and total lung lavage (TLL) of mechanically ventilated rats, 4 and 24 h after administration of Staphylococcal entertoxin (SEB) and to find out if these mediators in the EBC correlate with the concentration in the TLL. Rats were assigned to control (n = 8); 4 h (n = 8) or 24 h (n = 8) groups after SEB. The rats were mechanically ventilated and EBC and TLL were collected for TNF-α, LTB4 and 8-IP.

Successful polio eradication in Uttar Pradesh, India: the pivotal contribution of the Social Mobilization Network, an NGO/UNICEF collaboration.

In Uttar Pradesh, India, in response to low routine immunization coverage and ongoing poliovirus circulation, a network of U.S.-based CORE Group member and local nongovernmental organizations partnered with UNICEF, creating the Social Mobilization Network (SMNet).

The modified pterional keyhole craniotomy for open cerebrovascular surgery: a new workhorse?

Background: The frontotemporal craniotomy is the most commonly used approach for vascular neurosurgery. However, this approach requires significant mobilization of overlying soft tissues, resulting in muscle atrophy and temporomandibular joint pain. We describe a modified pterional keyhole approach and its use in our initial clinical experience.

Determinants of performance of supplemental immunization activities for polio eradication in Uttar Pradesh, India: social mobilization activities of the Social mobilization Network (SM Net) and Core Group Polio Project (CGPP).

Background: The primary strategy to interrupt transmission of wild poliovirus in India is to improve supplemental immunization activities (SIAs) and routine immunization coverage in priority districts. The CORE Group, part of the Social Mobilization Network (SM Net), has been successful in improving SIA coverage in high-risk areas of Uttar Pradesh (UP). The SM Net works through community level mobilisers (from the CORE Group and UNICEF) and covers more than 2 million children under the age of five.

Carry-over of aflatoxin B1 to aflatoxin M1 in high yielding Israeli cows in mid- and late-lactation.

The potent hepatotoxin and carcinogen aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is a common mycotoxin contaminant of grains used in animal feeds. Aflatoxin M1 (AFM1) is the major metabolite of AFB1 in mammals, being partially excreted into milk, and is a possible human carcinogen. The maximum permitted concentration of AFM1 in cows' milk is 0.

Stabilization of tissue specimens for pathological examination and biomedical research.

Human tissue specimens are critical reagents in the diagnosis of disease and biomedical research. Tissues experience rapid degradation immediately after ligation from their blood supply. A variety of processing techniques are employed to prevent the degradation of tissue samples, principally chemical fixation and thermal processing.

Direct laser trapping for measuring the behavior of transfused erythrocytes in a sickle cell anemia patient.

Using a laser trap, we have studied the properties of erythrocytes from a sickle cell anemia patient (SCA) after receiving an intravenous blood transfusion, and a normal adult individual carrying normal adult hemoglobin. The hemoglobin type and quantitation assessment was carried out by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). We conducted an analysis of the size distributions of the cells.

Water safety education among primary school children in Grenada.

Drowning is a common cause of death among children. Successful prevention interventions currently used in developed countries are often not transferable into developing countries due to differences in both environment and resources. In this study, we adapted a water safety education programme developed by the American Red Cross for primary school students in Grenada.

Designing benzosiloles for better optoelectronic properties using DFT & TDDFT approaches.

Like siloles, benzosiloles have low lying LUMOs due to σ*-π* conjugation between Si and the butadiene moiety but are more amenable for structural tuning. In total, 27 benzosiloles, 12 of them already synthesized and another 15 newly reported here, have been investigated using DFT and TDDFT calculations with an aim to check their suitability for optoelectronic applications. Our results show that all these molecules have excellent π-conjugation throughout.

Intrarenal oxygenation by blood oxygenation level-dependent MRI in contrast nephropathy model: effect of the viscosity and dose.

Purpose: To compare the effects of osmolality versus viscosity of radio-contrast media on intra-renal oxygenation as determined by blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) MRI in a model of contrast induced nephropathy (CIN).

Materials And Methods: Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups. Nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (10 mg/kg), cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin (10 mg/kg), or saline, and radio-contrast iodixanol (high viscosity, 784 or 1600 mg I/kg) or iothalamate (high osmolality, 1600 mg I/kg) were administered.

Alcohol consumption patterns and sexual risk behavior among female sex workers in two South Indian communities.

Background: HIV transmission in India is primarily heterosexual and there is a concentrated HIV epidemic among female sex workers (FSWs). Earlier reports demonstrate that many FSWs consume alcohol regularly before sexual encounters. This qualitative study is part of a larger quantitative study designed to assess alcohol consumption patterns among female sex workers and their association with sexual risk taking.

Tuning nonlinear optical and optoelectronic properties of vinyl coupled triazene chromophores: a density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory investigation.

Triazenes are a unique class of polyazo compounds containing three consecutive nitrogen atoms in an acyclic arrangement and are promising NLO candidates. In the present work, a series of 15 donor-π-acceptor type vinyl coupled triazene derivatives (VCTDs) with different acceptors (-NO(2), -CN, and -COOH) have been designed, and their structure, nonlinear response, and optoelectronic properties have been studied using density functional theory and time-dependent density functional theory methods. B3LYP/6-311g(d,p) optimized geometries of the designed candidates show delocalization from the acceptor to donor through a π-bridge.

Prolonged recovery from pediatric cardiac surgery due to disseminated cytomegalovirus infection.

Partial atrioventricular septal defect is usually followed by an uncomplicated postoperative course. We present an infant with unexplained persistent respiratory failure following partial a trioventricular septal defect repair. Extensive evaluation including bronchoalveolar lavage subsequently led to the diagnosis of disseminated cytomegalovirus.

Argon laser iridoplasty to improve visual function following multifocal intraocular lens implantation.

Purpose: To describe the use of argon laser iridoplasty following implantation of a multifocal intraocular lens (IOL) to improve visual function.

Methods: Argon laser spots of 500-mW power, 500-μm spot diameter, and 500-ms duration were placed in the midperipheral iris in the area in which the iris was encroaching on the IOL.

Results: Argon laser iridoplasty provided statistically significant improvement in visual function including corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA) and subjective quality of vision in 14 eyes from 11 patients.

Arteriovenous malformation-associated aneurysms in the pediatric population.

Object: Conventional cerebral angiography and treatment for ruptured arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) in children are often performed in a delayed fashion. In adults, current literature suggests that AVM-associated aneurysms may be more likely to hemorrhage than isolated AVMs, which often leads to earlier angiography and endovascular treatment of associated aneurysms. The nature of AVM-associated aneurysms in the pediatric population is virtually unknown.

Cotinine enhances the extinction of contextual fear memory and reduces anxiety after fear conditioning.

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is an anxiety disorder triggered by traumatic events. Symptoms include anxiety, depression and deficits in fear memory extinction (FE). PTSD patients show a higher prevalence of cigarette smoking than the general population.