Surface layer proteins from virulent Clostridium difficile ribotypes exhibit signatures of positive selection with consequences for innate immune response.

Background: Clostridium difficile is a nosocomial pathogen prevalent in hospitals worldwide and increasingly common in the community. Sequence differences have been shown to be present in the Surface Layer Proteins (SLPs) from different C. difficile ribotypes (RT) however whether these differences influence severity of infection is still not clear.

Copper wire theft and high voltage electrical burns.

High voltage electrical burns are uncommon. However in the midst of our economic recession we are noticing an increasing number of these injuries. Copper wire is a valuable commodity with physical properties as an excellent conductor of electricity making it both ubiquitous in society and prized on the black market.

Different initiatives across Europe to enhance losartan utilization post generics: impact and implications.

Introduction: There is an urgent need for health authorities across Europe to fully realize potential savings from increased use of generics to sustain their healthcare systems. A variety of strategies were used across Europe following the availability of generic losartan, the first angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) to be approved and marketed, to enhance its prescribing vs. single-sourced drugs in the class.

MIR141 Expression Differentiates Hashimoto Thyroiditis from PTC and Benign Thyrocytes in Irish Archival Thyroid Tissues.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs approximately 22 nucleotides in length that function as regulators of gene expression. Dysregulation of miRNAs has been associated with initiation and progression of oncogenesis in humans. Our group has previously described a unique miRNA expression signature, including the MIR200 family member MIR141, which can differentiate papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) cell lines from a control thyroid cell line.

Are there meaningful longitudinal changes in health related quality of life--SF36, in cardiac rehabilitation patients?

Background: This study aimed to observe changes in quality of life and minimal clinical important differences of quality of life over time in cardiac rehabilitation patients and to compare these with published normal data.

Methods: In this non-randomised study, SF36 questionnaires were completed by 187 patients recruited to a Phase III cardiac rehabilitation multidisciplinary outpatient programme. Data was collected at beginning, end and six months after Phase III cardiac rehabilitation programme.

The role of primary prophylactic factor replacement therapy in children with severe factor X deficiency.

Severe factor X (FX) deficiency is one of the severest inherited coagulation disorders. Clinical manifestations include umbilical cord, mucosal, joint and central nervous system bleeding. Four Irish children with severe FX deficiency presented with umbilical cord bleeding.

Comparative Study of FISH, PCR and Cytogenetics on 25 Patients Submitted to Bone Marrow Transplantation (BMT) for Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML); Which Tests can we Use in Routine Analysis Post BMT?

Chronic Myeloid Leukaemia (CML) shows an excellent response to allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (BMT) with a 60-80% long term disease free survival in recipients of unmanipulate marrow. The most frequent cause of treatment failure is leukaemic relapse, due to the re-emergence of malignant recipient clones. Clinical and haematological relapse is usually preceded by molecular evidence of relapse.