Usefulness of the MicroSeq 500 16S ribosomal DNA-based bacterial identification system for identification of clinically significant bacterial isolates with ambiguous biochemical profiles.

Due to the inadequate automation in the amplification and sequencing procedures, the use of 16S rRNA gene sequence-based methods in clinical microbiology laboratories is largely limited to identification of strains that are difficult to identify by phenotypic methods. In this study, using conventional full-sequence 16S rRNA gene sequencing as the "gold standard," we evaluated the usefulness of the MicroSeq 500 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA)-based bacterial identification system, which involves amplification and sequencing of the first 527-bp fragment of the 16S rRNA genes of bacterial strains and analysis of the sequences using the database of the system, for identification of clinically significant bacterial isolates with ambiguous biochemical profiles. Among 37 clinically significant bacterial strains that showed ambiguous biochemical profiles, representing 37 nonduplicating aerobic gram-positive and gram-negative, anaerobic, and Mycobacterium species, the MicroSeq 500 16S rDNA-based bacterial identification system was successful in identifying 30 (81.

Comparison of atraumatic restorative treatment and conventional restorative procedures in a hospital clinic: evaluation after 30 months.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate two glass-ionomer cements placed in the occlusal surfaces of permanent molar teeth, using two cavity preparation methods.

Method And Materials: Three dentists placed 149 restorations for 68 patients in a hospital clinic. Atraumatic restorative treatment or conventional cavity preparation methods were used for two encapsulated, high-strength conventional glass-ionomer cements: Fuji IX GP and Ketac-Molar.

Fractured dens evaginatus and unusual periapical radiolucency.

Dens evaginatus (DE) is not uncommon. It can affect the premolars of people of oriental ethnicity, and it can lead to different clinical problems. This article describes the diagnosis and management of a patient presenting with a fractured tubercle of DE and an unusual buccal abscess in relation to periapical radiolucency extending around the mandibular second premolar and first molar.

The relief of a caregiver's burden through guided imagery, role-playing, humor, and paradoxical intervention.

Caregiving by relatives to a person with mental illness is demanding and overwhelming. This paper describes how to use guided imagery, role-playing, humor, and paradoxical intervention to help the wife of a man with mental illness in easing her worry, anxiety, and frustration engendered by caregiving. The intervention made the wife feel normal and relaxed in facing the "symptoms" of her husband's mental illness.

Effects of Bafilomycin A1: an inhibitor of vacuolar H (+)-ATPases on endocytosis and apoptosis in RAW cells and RAW cell-derived osteoclasts.

Bafilomycin A1, a specific inhibitor of V-ATPases, is a potent inhibitor of bone resorption, but the underlying mechanisms of its action remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effect of Bafilomycin A1 on endocytosis and apoptosis in RAW cells and RAW cell-derived osteoclasts. Quantitative analysis by flow cytometry showed that Bafilomycin A1 increased total transferrin levels when RAW cells were exposed to labeled transferrin and decreased the total uptake of Dextran-rhodamine B, both in a dose- and time-dependent fashion, indicating that Bafilomycin influences receptor-mediated and fluid phase endocytosis in these cells.

Rotational path of insertion for removable partial dentures with an anterior saddle.

The provision of removable partial dentures remains a viable treatment modality for many partially dentate patients. Replacing missing anterior teeth with a removable partial denture using a rotational path of insertion provides improved retention and appearance. The use of a rotational path of insertion also provides additional retention for a removable partial denture restoring combined anterior and posterior bounded saddles.

Noninvasive cerebrovascular autoregulation assessment in traumatic brain injury: validation and utility.

A moving correlation index (Mx-CPP) of cerebral perfusion pressure (CPP) and mean middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity (CBFV) allows continuous monitoring of dynamic cerebral autoregulation (CA) in patients with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). In this study we validated Mx-CPP for TBI, examined its prognostic relevance, and assessed its relationship with arterial blood pressure (ABP), CPP, intracranial pressure (ICP), and CBFV. We tested whether using ABP instead of CPP for Mx calculation (Mx-ABP) produces similar results.

A mutual-aid group for psychiatric rehabilitation of mental ex-patients in Hong Kong.

Background: Mutual-aid group and self-directed group are recognized as important interventions for anti-oppression of disadvantaged groups in our society.

Method: In this paper, the writer describes a mutual-aid group implemented in a psychiatric half-way house in Hong Kong. Members in this group were free to set their own agenda for discussion and to invite guest speakers.

Restoration of teeth with more-viscous glass ionomer cements following radiation-induced caries.

Objective: To assess the suitability of more-viscous conventional restorative glass ionomer cements (GICs) in a high-caries risk group of patients.

Methods: Fifteen adult patients with radiation-induced caries were treated at a dental hospital by one dentist. Two encapsulated aesthetic GICs were used in each patient to restore 146 carious lesions in the exposed dentine and cementum of 93 teeth.

Assessment of endodontically treated teeth adjacent to proposed implant sites.

Many partially dentate dentitions are now being restored using dental implants; but assessment of endodontically treated teeth adjacent to the proposed implant sites has seldom been reported. Assessment criteria are given for sound- and endodontically compromised teeth to ensure adequate preimplant preventive and restorative treatment and to minimize the chances of failure of dental implants adjacent to these teeth. Cases are used to illustrate pitfalls in the treatment planning process.

Search for the production of single sleptons through R-parity violation in pp; collisions at square root (s) =1.8 TeV.

We report the first search for supersymmetric particles via s-channel production and decay of smuons or muon sneutrinos at hadronic colliders. The data for the two-muon and two-jets final states were collected by the D0 experiment and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 94+/-5 pb(-1). Assuming that R parity is violated via the single coupling lambda'211, the number of candidate events is in agreement with expectation from the standard model.

Chinese cultural dynamics of unemployability of male adults with psychiatric disabilities in Hong Kong.

Work and employment has long been regarded as crucial for the mental health of human beings. Unemployment may lead to deterioration of physical and mental health. Nevertheless, for adults with psychiatric disabilities, discontinuity of employment is common.

Search for R-parity violating supersymmetry in two-muon and four-jet topologies.

We present results of a search for R-parity-violating decay of the neutralino chi;01, taken as the lightest supersymmetric particle, to a muon and two jets. The decay proceeds through a lepton-number violating coupling lambda(')(2jk) (j=1,2; k=1,2,3), with R-parity conservation in all other production and decay processes. In the absence of candidate events from 77.

Time-varying properties of renal autoregulatory mechanisms.

In order to assess the possible time-varying properties of renal autoregulation, time-frequency and time-scaling methods were applied to renal blood flow under broad-band forced arterial blood pressure fluctuations and single-nephron renal blood flow with spontaneous oscillations obtained from normotensive (Sprague-Dawley, Wistar, and Long-Evans) rats, and spontaneously hypertensive rats. Time-frequency analyses of normotensive and hypertensive blood flow data obtained from either the whole kidney or the single-nephron show that indeed both the myogenic and tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanisms have time-varying characteristics. Furthermore, we utilized the Renyi entropy to measure the complexity of blood-flow dynamics in the time-frequency plane in an effort to discern differences between normotensive and hypertensive recordings.

Apical H(+)/base transporters mediating bicarbonate absorption and pH(i) regulation in the OMCD.

The outer medullary collecting duct (OMCD) plays an important role in mediating transepithelial HCO transport [J(HCO(3)(-))] and urinary acidification. HCO absorption by type A intercalated cells in the OMCD inner stripe (OMCD(is)) segment is thought to by mediated by an apical vacuolar H(+)-ATPase and H(+)-K(+)-ATPase coupled to a basolateral Cl(-)-HCO exchanger (AE1). Besides these Na(+)-independent transporters, previous studies have shown that OMCD(is) type A intercalated cells have an apical electroneutral EIPA-sensitive, DIDS-insensitive Na(+)-HCO cotransporter (NBC3); a basolateral Na(+)/H(+) antiporter; and a basolateral Na(+)-K(+)-ATPase.

Efficacy of enzyme immunoassay for the detection of Helicobacter pylori antigens in frozen stool specimens: local validation.

Aim: To investigate the efficacy of measurement of Helicobacter pylori stool antigen (HpSA) using stored frozen stool specimens, and to assess whether there were factors affecting efficacy in Hong Kong.

Methods: Patients undergoing upper endoscopy at Tuen Mun Hospital were recruited. Stool samples were saved for HpSA testing and questionnaires were completed.

The effects of two cavity preparation methods on the longevity of glass ionomer cement restorations: an evaluation after 12 months.

Background: The authors undertook a study to evaluate the effect of two cavity preparation methods on the initial survival of two more-viscous glass ionomer cements, or GICs, placed in the occlusal surfaces of permanent molar teeth.

Methods: Three dentists placed 149 restorations in 68 adult patients in a hospital clinic. They used either atraumatic restorative treatment, or ART, or conventional cavity preparation methods to place two encapsulated esthetic conventional GICs: Fuji IX GP (GC International Corp.

Search for the scalar top quark in pp collisions at square root[s] = 1.8 TeV.

We have performed a search for scalar top quark (stop) pair production in the inclusive electron-muon-missing transverse energy final state, using a sample of pp events corresponding to 108.3 pb(-1) of data collected with the D0 detector at Fermilab. The search is done in the framework of the minimal supersymmetric standard model assuming that the sneutrino is the lightest supersymmetric particle.

Search for leptoquark pairs decaying into nunu+jets in pp collisions at square root[s] = 1.8 TeV.

We present the results of a search for leptoquark (LQ) pairs in (85.2+/-3.7) pb(-1) of pp* collider data collected by the D0 experiment at the Fermilab Tevatron.

Direct search for charged higgs bosons in decays of top quarks.

We present a search for charged Higgs bosons in decays of pair-produced top quarks in pp collisions at sqrt[s] = 1.8 TeV recorded by the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider. With no evidence for signal, we exclude most regions of the ( M(H+/-),tan(beta)) parameter space where the decay t--> H(+)b has a branching fraction >0.