Identification of mutations in distinct regions of p85 alpha in urothelial cancer.

Bladder cancers commonly show genetic aberrations in the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase signaling pathway. Here we have screened for mutations in PIK3R1, which encodes p85α, one of the regulatory subunits of PI3K. Two hundred and sixty-four bladder tumours and 41 bladder tumour cell lines were screened and 18 mutations were detected.

Differential-associative processing or example elaboration: Which strategy is best for learning the definitions of related and unrelated concepts?

Definitions of related concepts (e.g., -) are prevalent in introductory classes.

Socio-economic status and vitamin/ mineral supplement use in Canada.

Background: The link between diet quality and socio-economic status (SES) may extend to the use of vitamin/ mineral supplements. This article examines factors related to Canadians' use of such supplements, with emphasis on associations with household income and education.

Data And Methods: The data are from the 2004 Canadian Community Health Survey-Nutrition (n = 35,107).

Outcomes of home-based diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea.

Background: Home diagnosis and therapy for obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may improve access to testing and continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. We compared subjective sleepiness, sleep quality, quality of life, BP, and CPAP adherence after 4 weeks of CPAP therapy in subjects in whom OSA was diagnosed and treated at home and in those evaluated in the sleep laboratory.

Methods: A randomized trial was performed consisting of home-based level 3 testing followed by 1 week of auto-CPAP and fixed-pressure CPAP based on the 95% pressure derived from the auto-CPAP device, and in-laboratory polysomnography (PSG) (using mostly split-night protocol) with CPAP titration; 102 subjects were randomized (age, 47.

Parameter estimation in rational models of molecular biological systems.

Based on statistical thermodynamics or Michaelis -Menten kinetics, molecular biological systems can be modeled by a system of nonlinear differential equations. The nonlinearity in the model stems from rational reaction rates whose numerator and denominator are linear in parameters. It is a nonlinear problem to estimate the parameters in such rational models of molecular biological systems.

Molecular basis of protein structure in proanthocyanidin and anthocyanin-enhanced Lc-transgenic alfalfa in relation to nutritive value using synchrotron-radiation FTIR microspectroscopy: a novel approach.

To date there has been very little application of synchrotron radiation-based Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SRFTIRM) to the study of molecular structures in plant forage in relation to livestock digestive behavior and nutrient availability. Protein inherent structure, among other factors such as protein matrix, affects nutritive quality, fermentation and degradation behavior in both humans and animals. The relative percentage of protein secondary structure influences protein value.

Posterior fracture dislocation of the ankle: technique and clinical experience using a posteromedial surgical approach.

Objective: The purpose of this study is to revisit the posteromedial surgical approach to the ankle and report the clinical outcomes of this technique in a cohort of 17 patients.

Design: Retrospective.

Setting: Level I trauma center.

Histone acetylation is not an accurate predictor of gene expression following treatment with histone deacetylase inhibitors.

Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitors (HDIs) are documented for their role in activation and/or repression of gene expression. Currently, it is believed that HDAC inhibitors act at the histone level to alter chromatin dynamics through the inactivation of HDACs thereby resulting in histone hyperacetylation and increased transcriptional activation. However, transcriptional repression of gene expression is not explained by this model.

Enhancing ultrasound texture differences for developing an in vivo 'virtual histology' approach to bovine ovarian imaging.

A 'virtual histology' can be thought of as the 'staining' of a digital ultrasound image via image processing techniques in order to enhance the visualisation of differences in the echotexture of different types of tissues. Several candidate image-processing algorithms for virtual histology using ultrasound images of the bovine ovary were studied. The candidate algorithms were evaluated qualitatively for the ability to enhance the visual differences in intra-ovarian structures and quantitatively, using standard texture description features, for the ability to increase statistical differences in the echotexture of different ovarian tissues.

Treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome: who does what, when ... and why?

Objective: To determine how frequently treatments had been offered to patients with suspected diagnoses of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) who had been referred for confirmatory nerve conduction studies (NCSs) and to identify potential predictors of such treatment. A follow-up survey was conducted to determine the effect of NCS results on subsequent treatment.

Design: Self-administered survey questionnaire and follow-up telephone survey.

Spontaneous flexor tendon ruptures of the hand: case series and review of the literature.

Spontaneous flexor tendon ruptures within the hand are incompletely understood. We report 5 cases of spontaneous tendon rupture involving the flexor digitorum profundus tendon. One case involves an abnormal intertendinous connection between the ring and small finger profundus tendons and another involves a lumbrical muscle variant.

Molecular chemical structure of barley proteins revealed by ultra-spatially resolved synchrotron light sourced FTIR microspectroscopy: comparison of barley varieties.

Barley protein structure affects the barley quality, fermentation, and degradation behavior in both humans and animals among other factors such as protein matrix. Publications show various biological differences among barley varieties such as Valier and Harrington, which have significantly different degradation behaviors. The objectives of this study were to reveal the molecular structure of barley protein, comparing various varieties (Dolly, Valier, Harrington, LP955, AC Metcalfe, and Sisler), and quantify protein structure profiles using Gaussian and Lorentzian methods of multi-component peak modeling by using the ultra-spatially resolved synchrotron light sourced Fourier transform infrared microspectroscopy (SFTIRM).

Monitoring the fluidized bed granulation process based on S-statistic analysis of a pressure time series.

Pressure fluctuation measurements collected during the fluidized bed granulation of pharmaceutical granule have been analyzed using the attractor comparison technique denoted as the S-statistic. Divergence of the bed state from the reference during granulation is followed by a return to a condition statistically similar to the original state of the dry fluidized ingredients on drying. This suggests insensitivity of the S-statistic technique to the changes in particle size distribution occurring during the granulation process.

Quinupristin/dalfopristin.

Gram-positive pathogens are associated with both community- and hospital-acquired infections. These infections may be life-threatening in hospitalised patients, especially in those with significant underlying acute or chronic diseases. Prompt and appropriate antimicrobial therapy is essential for avoiding morbidity and mortality.

Susceptibility of Canadian isolates of Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae to oral antimicrobial agents.

We measured the susceptibility of Canadian isolates of three respiratory tract pathogens (Haemophilus influenzae, Moraxella catarrhalis and Streptococcus pneumoniae) to several currently approved antimicrobial agents by two different methods. We also measured the susceptibility of isolates to seven fluoroquinolones. Beta-lactamase was produced by 123/566 (21.

Moxifloxacin: a review of the microbiological, pharmacological, clinical and safety features.

Antimicrobial agents are used to treat patients with infectious diseases. Initial antimicrobial compounds originated from natural sources and were generally deemed to be narrow in spectrum. Today, we are in the era of designer drugs that have been specifically developed with current issues in infectious diseases in mind.

Enhancing mastery and sense of coherence: important determinants of health in older adults.

The purpose of the study was to expand existing knowledge of the determinants of health for community-dwelling young-old and old-old people. A subsample (n = 2413) from the Health Canada Supplement to the 1994 National Population Health Survey was analyzed. The factors examined were biographic attributes, sociodemographic indicators, sense of coherence (SOC), mastery, self-esteem, informal social support, and use of health care services.

Isotretinoin use in acne: prospective evaluation of adverse events.

Background: Isotretinoin is an effective treatment for severe acne. Although the spectrum of side effects has been well documented, the changing incidence of such side effects over the course of treatment has not been studied in detail.

Objectives: The purpose of our study was to examine a group of patients monthly over their course of treatment and prospectively document the side effects experienced.