Procoagulant activity in children with community acquired pneumonia, pleural effusion and empyema.

Unlabelled: In patients with community-acquired pneumonia (CAP), bacterial-cell-wall-derived fragments may induce the coagulation cascade. To contribute to the knowledge of underlying mechanisms, we have studied the fibrinolytic activity in children with CAP and parapneumonic effusions.

Patients And Methods: Twenty previously healthy children admitted to our Department with CAP were studied; with (n = 11) or without (n = 9) pleural effusion (PPE).

Visual outcome of a cohort of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 and optic pathway glioma followed by a pediatric neuro-oncology program.

We evaluated the visual outcome of a cohort of children with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and optic pathway glioma (OPG) treated according to standardized therapeutic guidelines. The study population consisted of all consecutive patients with NF1 and OPG referred to a specialized pediatric neuro-oncology program between 1994 and 2004. Treatment was instituted only in cases of progressive disease or clinical deterioration.

Improving osteoporosis management in patients with fractures.

A history of fracture is an independent risk factor for future fractures, but patients who have sustained a fracture are rarely evaluated for osteoporosis (OP). The objective of this study was to determine if a simple intervention in a general orthopedic clinic would lead to more fracture patients receiving evaluation and treatment for OP. Patients with a history of fracture visiting a weekly orthopedic clinic during a 6-month intervention period were educated about OP, and a bone mineral density (BMD) test was offered.

Osteoporosis in pulmonary clinic patients: does point-of-care screening predict central dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry?

Study Objectives: Patients in a pulmonary clinic have disorders that predispose them to osteoporosis and may use glucocorticoid therapy, which has been associated with low bone mineral density (BMD) and increased fracture risk. Ideally, all patients at risk for osteoporosis would be screened using the best test available, which is central BMD by dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We proposed to stratify the risk for osteoporosis by the use of a simple questionnaire and point-of-care heel ultrasound BMD measurements.

Psychosocial self-efficacy and personal characteristics of veterans attending a diabetes education program.

Purpose: The purpose of this descriptive correlational study was to describe the perceived psychosocial self-efficacy, attitude toward having diabetes, baseline glucose level, and personal characteristics of male veterans with type 2 diabetes.

Methods: The Diabetes Empowerment Scale (DES) was mailed to participants and collected on the day of the program. Percent ideal body weight and glycosylated hemoglobin were measured.

Transcriptional regulation of the Escherichia coli rhaT gene.

Transcriptional regulation of the rhaT gene, one of the operons forming the rhamnose regulon in Escherichia coli, was studied by fusing its complete or deleted promoter to the reporter gene lacZ. Analysis of beta-galactosidase activities induced in these constructions grown under different conditions predicted the presence of two putative control elements: one for the RhaS regulatory protein and activating the gene not only by L-rhamnose but also by L-lyxose or L-mannose, the other for cAMP-catabolite repression protein and activating this gene in the absence of glucose. Anaerobiosis increased the promoter function two- to threefold with respect to the aerobic condition.