Systematic Review of Intrauterine Contraceptive Use and the Development of Toxic Shock Syndrome.

The objective of this systematic review was to characterize the literature regarding the risk factors associated with the development of toxic shock syndrome (TSS) secondary to the use of intrauterine contraceptives (IUCs), as well as patient outcomes. A literature search was conducted spanning origin through December 12, 2022, using Embase and MEDLINE ALL. Primary literature that discussed development of TSS along with the presence of an IUC were included.

Measuring what matters to older persons for active living: part II cross-sectional validity evidence for OPAL measure across four countries.

Introduction: Through interviews with 148 older persons from four countries and in four languages, the content for a 17-item measure of active living was developed. The purpose of this paper is to present further evidence of the extent to which this new measure, Older Persons Active Living (OPAL), is "fit-for-purpose" for measuring the extent of active living at one point in time.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was carried out on a population aged 65 + and living independently, drawn from a participant panel, HostedinCanada, sampling people from Canada, United States, United Kingdom, and Netherlands.

Comparison of Early Pregnancy Loss Management Between States With Restrictive and Supportive Abortion Policies.

Introduction: Mifepristone-misoprostol and office uterine aspiration used for abortion care are also evidence-based, cost-effective strategies for early pregnancy loss management. We aimed to compare the provision of mifepristone-misoprostol and office uterine aspiration for early pregnancy loss between states with restrictive and supportive abortion policies.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional, internet-based survey regarding early pregnancy loss management among obstetrician-gynecologists (OBGYNs) at academic medical centers.

Patient and counselor satisfaction with structured contraceptive counseling by health center staff in federally qualified health centers.

Objectives: To characterize patient and counselor satisfaction with structured, tier-based contraceptive counseling provided by a nonclinician.

Study Design: We conducted a planned secondary analysis of patient and counselor surveys from a study that enrolled women in 2 contraceptive care programs. All participants received structured contraceptive counseling from trained staff members.

Long-term clinical performance of heat-cured high-viscosity glass ionomer class II restorations versus resin-based composites in primary molars: a randomized comparison trial.

Objective: To evaluate the long-term clinical performance of heat-cured high-viscosity glass ionomer (GIC) and posterior composite resin (CR) restorations in primary molars over a 3-year period.

Methods: Photographs and radiographs of EQUIA GIC and Filtek™ P60 restorations were assessed. Study sample is comprised of healthy preschool/school children with proximal surface caries in primary molars.

Inactive Atm abrogates DSB repair in mouse cerebellum more than does Atm loss, without causing a neurological phenotype.

The genome instability syndrome, ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T) is caused by null mutations in the ATM gene, that lead to complete loss or inactivation of the gene's product, the ATM protein kinase. ATM is the primary mobilizer of the cellular response to DNA double-strand breaks (DSBs) - a broad signaling network in which many components are ATM targets. The major clinical feature of A-T is cerebellar atrophy, characterized by relentless loss of Purkinje and granule cells.

Calibration: Modelling the measurement process.

Calibration procedures establish a reliable relation between the final states ('indications') of a measurement process and features of the objects being measured ('outcomes'). This article analyzes the inferential structure of calibration procedures. I show that calibration is a modelling activity, namely the activity of constructing, deriving predictions from, and testing theoretical and statistical models of a measurement process.

The making of measurement: Editors' introduction.

This special issue consists of selected papers arising from the interdisciplinary conference "The Making of Measurement" held at the University of Cambridge on 23-24 July 2015. In this introduction, we seek ways to further productive interactions among historical, philosophical, and sociological approaches to the study of measurement without attempting to lay out a prescriptive program for a field of "measurement studies." We ask where science studies has led us, and answer: from the function to the making of measurement.

AN-7, a butyric acid prodrug, sensitizes cutaneous T-cell lymphoma cell lines to doxorubicin via inhibition of DNA double strand breaks repair.

We previously found that the novel histone deacetylase inhibitor (HDACI) butyroyloxymethyl diethylphosphate (AN-7) had greater selectivity against cutaneous T-cell lymphoma (CTCL) than SAHA. AN-7 synergizes with doxorubicin (Dox), an anthracycline antibiotic that induces DNA breaks. This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism underlying the effect of AN-7 on Dox-induced double-strand DNA breaks (DSBs) in CTCL, MyLa and Hut78 cell lines.

Clinical Performance of Heat-Cured High-Viscosity Glass Ionomer Class II Restorations in Primary Molars: A Preliminary Study.

Objectives: The present preliminary study evaluated the clinical and radiographic performances of heat-cured high viscosity glass ionomer (HCHVGI) in class II restorations of primary molars.

Study Design: A retrospective study on a cohort of patients who had dental caries restored at a private practice was conducted. Restorations were evaluated radiographically and photographically by two separate examiners.

Monitoring the ATM-Mediated DNA Damage Response in the Cerebellum Using Organotypic Cultures.

The ATM gene and its protein product, the ATM protein kinase, were identified as a result of attempts to understand the molecular basis of the genetic disorder, ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T). The cardinal symptom of A-T is neurodegeneration expressed primarily as progressive cerebellar atrophy. A major tool in the investigation of ATM functions in the cerebellum is cerebellar organotypic cultures, which allow cerebellar slices to live in culture for several weeks without losing their viability and organization.

Parental cooperation scale in the pediatric dentistry setting: reliability and criteria.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to provide reliability and criteria data on a newly defined parental cooperation scale (PCS) and in addition correlate between parent scores and their child's behavior in the dental setting.

Study Design: 244 parents accompanying their child to a dental visit were evaluated by two independent pediatric dentist evaluators. 150 parents were designated to be revaluated at least two weeks following the initial evaluation by the same examiner.

Improving the efficiency of an optical parametric oscillator by tailoring the pump pulse shape.

The conversion efficiency of an optical parametric oscillator is reduced by energy consumption during build-up of signal and idler intensities and due to back-conversion effects. By tailoring the pump pulse temporal shape, we are able to improve the conversion efficiency by minimizing build-up time and back-conversion. Simulations predict a significant improvement in 1064 nm to 4000 nm idler conversion by using a double-rectangular temporal shape rather than using a simple Gaussian pulse.

Fasting state and episodes of vomiting in children receiving nitrous oxide for dental treatment.

Purpose: The purpose of this controlled-crossover study was to determine the frequency of vomiting during nitrous oxide / oxygen analgesia (NOA) and assess the relationship between fasting status and vomiting.

Methods: One hundred and thirteen children (64 male, 49 female), ranging in age from 24-160 months (mean = 74) and a mean weight of 23 kg (range 11-60 kg), participated in the study. At the initial examination, subjects were randomly assigned to be either fasting on the first appointment and non-fasting during the second appointment or alternatively be non-fasting for the first appointment and fasting for the second.

The transpalatal arch: an alternative to the Nance appliance for space maintenance.

The loss of multiple primary molars in the primary or transitional dentition will, in many instances, lead to disturbances of the developing dentition. To prevent this, an appliance can be constructed to maintain the relationship of the remaining teeth and to guide the eruption of the developing teeth. Traditionally, the treatment of choice for maxillary loss is the placement of a Nance appliance.

The 3D structure of the tectorial membrane determined by second-harmonic imaging microscopy.

The tectorial membrane (TM) is a highly hydrated non-cellular matrix situated over the sensory cells of the cochlea. It is widely accepted that the mechanical coupling, between the TM and outer hair cells stereocilia bundles, plays an important role in the cochlea energy transduction mechanism. Recently, we provided supporting evidence for the existence of mechanical coupling by demonstrating that the mechanical properties of the TM change along its longitudinal direction.

Transformation from an ultrashort pulse to a spatiotemporal speckle by a thin scattering surface.

We have theoretically and experimentally studied the local temporal and spectral characteristics of an ultrashort pulse passing a simple thin diffusive element. We show that as one moves away from the diffuser the pulse evolves into a spatiotemporal speckle.

Dentin micro-architecture using harmonic generation microscopy.

Objectives: We present a novel way to create high-resolution three-dimensional images of tooth dentin by harmonic generation scanning laser microscopy.

Methods: The images were taken using a pulsed infrared laser. Three-dimensional reconstruction enables the visualization of individual tubules and the collagen fibrils mesh around them with an optical resolution of approximately 1 microm.

Femtosecond pulse-shape modulation at nanosecond rates.

We report high-rate, computer-controlled femtosecond pulse shaping by use of an electro-optical gallium arsenide optical phased-array modulator with 2304 controlled waveguides. It provides fast modulation speed of both spectral phases and amplitudes. Limited by the driving electronics of our current setup, we were able to update a pulse shape in approximately 30 ns.

Improved depth resolution in video-rate line-scanning multiphoton microscopy using temporal focusing.

By introducing spatiotemporal pulse shaping techniques to multiphoton microscopy it is possible to obtain video-rate images with depth resolution similar to point-by-point scanning multiphoton microscopy while mechanically scanning in only one dimension. This is achieved by temporal focusing of the illumination pulse: The pulsed excitation field is compressed as it propagates through the sample, reaching its shortest duration (and highest peak intensity) at the focal plane before stretching again beyond it. This method is applied to produce, in a simple and scalable setup, video-rate two-photon excitation fluorescence images of Drosophila egg chambers with nearly 100,000 effective pixels and 1.

Scanningless depth-resolved microscopy.

The ability to perform optical sectioning is one of the great advantages of laser-scanning microscopy. This introduces, however, a number of difficulties due to the scanning process, such as lower frame rates due to the serial acquisition process. Here we show that by introducing spatiotemporal pulse shaping techniques to multiphoton microscopy it is possible to obtain full-frame depth resolved imaging completely without scanning.

Depth-resolved structural imaging by third-harmonic generation microscopy.

Third harmonic generation microscopy is shown to be a robust method for obtaining structural information on a variety of biological specimens. Its nature allows depth-resolved imaging of inhomogeneities with virtually no background from surrounding homogeneous media. With an appropriate illumination geometry, third harmonic generation microscopy is shown to be particularly suitable for imaging of biogenic crystals, enabling extraction of the crystal orientation.

Depth-resolved multiphoton polarization microscopy by third-harmonic generation.

We achieve depth-resolved polarization microscopy by measuring third-harmonic generation induced by a tightly focused circularly polarized beam. In crystals exhibiting strong birefringence this signal is dominated by positively phase-matched third-harmonic generation. This process occurs in only optically anisotropic media, in which the birefringence compensates for the phase mismatch between the fundamental and the third harmonic induced by dispersion.