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GST Primary GST Primary Best Strategies for Health Care Quality Im... Best Strategies for Health Care Quality Improvement - Diabetes Quality Improvement Strategies for Antibio... Kathryn McDonald, Stanford-UCSF Evidence-b... Systematic review assessing the effect of ... Quality Improvement Strategies for Antibiotics Management Kathryn McDonald, Stanford-UCSF Evidence-based Practice Center, 117 Encina Commons, Stanford, CA 94305-6019, Kathy.mcdonald@stanford.edu Systematic review assessing the effect of quality improvement strategies on appropriate prescribing of antibiotics and appropriate choice of antibiotics. Adherence Adherence Assistive Devices Assistive Devices Childhood Burn Hanson MacMillan Childhood Burn Hanson MacMillan CLSA_9 CLSA_9 Cyberabuse Cyberabuse Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Violent ... This review included randomized trials abo... Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Violent Men who Batter Their Partners This review included randomized trials about the effects of cognitive behavioral therapy on domestic violence. The intervention included programs based on the Duluth Model. The violence had to be committed by a male toward his female partner. The violence also had to be physical. The primary outcomes were new arrests and convictions, and new reports of violence. CABG vs PCI CABG vs PCI Quality Improvement Strategies for Prevent... Quality Improvement Strategies for Preventing Nosocomial Infections (Created 17-Feb-06) Quality Improvement Strategies for Asthma ... Quality Improvement Strategies for Asthma Control Erectile Dysfunction (Created 30-Jan-06) Erectile Dysfunction (Created 30-Jan-06) Inequality - Smoking Cessation to Reduce S... This review was the first part of a projec... Inequality - Smoking Cessation to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences This review was the first part of a project about inequality. It included randomized trials about the effect of smoking cessation interventions on reducing socio-economic differences. The studies had to report data either on persons with low socio-economic groups status or, preferably, on both low and high socio-economic groups. Diet and Physical Activity to Reduce Socio... This review was the second part in a proje... Diet and Physical Activity to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences This review was the second part in a project about inequality. It included randomized trials about the effect of interventions on reducing socio-economic differences in diet and physical activity. The studies had to report data either on persons with low socio-economic groups status or, preferably, on both low and high socio-economic groups. Workfare The data in SRS are not identical to the d... Workfare The data in SRS are not identical to the data in the published report. We used SRS only for an updated search. The review included randomized trials about the effect of welfare-to-work programs. Participants were welfare recipients. There were basically two types of programs. The educational type tried to build knowledge and skills in order to help the welfare recipients acquire jobs that could support them economically. The "work first" approach was more aimed at getting the participants quickly into a job. Exercise interventions for the management ... The objective of this systematic review wa... Exercise interventions for the management of frailty The objective of this systematic review was to examine the effectiveness of current exercise interventions on the management of frailty. A comprehensive search of Medline, Embase, Psycinfo, Cinahl, Scopus, Ageline, Eric, and SportDiscus databases was conducted and produced 1808 citations. So far we have completed 2 levels of “title and abstract” screening and we ended up with 262 articles. We have just started the full text screening. Eligibility criteria included original studies whose participants were identified as frail or prefrail with specific criteria and in which structured physical activity was included as at least one component of the intervention. Create a free account, build a dictionary with saved terms to re-use later! Public Domestic Violence - Using Cognitive Behavior Therapy Smoking Cessation to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences Diet and Physical Activity to Reduce Socio-Economic Differences Workfare Exercise Interventions for the Management of Frailty Search     Simple Advanced Refine (4 coded questions)  Any of these:   Exact Phrase: All of these: None of these: Author: Periodical: Projects: No restrictions   Libraries: Public   Select SRS Projects Show Saved Terms Select Library Show articles that do not have abstracts  Humans or Animals Humans Animals Type of Article Clinical Trial Editorial Letter Meta-Analysis Practice Guideline Randomized Controlled Trial Review Addresses Bibliography Biography Case Reports Classical Article Clinical Conference Clinical Trial, Phase I Clinical Trial, Phase II Clinical Trial, Phase III Clinical Trial, Phase IV Comment Comparative Study Consensus Development Conference Consensus Development Conference, NIH Controlled Clinical Trial Corrected and Republished Article Dictionary Directory Duplicate Publication English Abstract Evaluation Studies Festschrift Government Publications Guideline Historical Article Interview In Vitro Journal Article Lectures Legal Cases Legislation Multicenter Study News Newspaper Article Overall Patient Education Handout Periodical Index Published Erratum Retracted Publication Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. 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Retraction of Publication Scientific Integrity Review Support of Research Technical Report Twin Study Validation Studies Not a Primary Study or Review Unknown Primary Study Case Series Case Control Cohort Study Observational Study Qualitative Research CBA or ITS Registry Double Blind Controlled before after study Quasi-randomized trial Simple before after study Cluster-RCT Non-Randomized Study Report Book Book chapter Dissertation Conference procedings Secondary Research Not RCT Ages All Infant: birth-23 months All Child: 0-18 years All Adult: 19+ years Newborn: birth-1 month Infant: 1-23 months Preschool Child: 2-5 years Child: 6-12 years Adolescent: 13-18 years Adult: 19-44 years Middle Aged: 45-64 years Middle Aged + Aged: 45+ years Aged: 65+ years 80 and over: 80+ years Undetermined Language English French German Italian Japanese Russian Spanish Afrikaans Albanian Unknown Arabic Armenian Azerbaijani Bosnian Bulgarian Catalan Chinese Croatian Czech Danish Dutch Esperanto Estonian Finnish Georgian Greek, Modern Hebrew Hindi Hungarian Icelandic Indonesian Kinyarwanda Korean Latin Latvian Lithuanian Macedonian Malay Malayalam Maori Multiple Languages Norwegian Persian Polish Portuguese Pushto Romanian Sanskrit Scottish gaelic Serbian Slovak Slovenian Swedish Thai Turkish Ukrainian Vietnamese Not English Not French Results(1-25 of 1,921) Sort By: Publication Date Relevance Took: 2.761 seconds to search 17,750,454  Action: Copy Results to new Clipboard Build Search Link Page 1 of 77 1 2 3 4 > Last >> (1921 articles found) Effects of a walking program in the psychiatric in-patient treatment setting: a cohort study. Apr 2007 Felicity Ng,Seetal Dodd,Felice N Jacka,Evie Leslie,Michael Berk ISSUE ADDRESSED: To assess the effectiveness of a walking program in a psychiatric in-patient unit. METHOD: In-patients at a private psychiatric unit were offered the opportunity to participate in a daily morning 40- minute walk led by an activity supervisor. After discharge, outcomes for patients ... ( view more )who had regularly participated in the walking group (n=35) and patients who had not participated (n=49) were compared for length of stay during their period of admission and Clinical Global Impression-Severity (CGI-S) and Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS) scores measured at admission and discharge. This was a retrospective analysis of data collected routinely. RESULTS: There were no significant differences between the two cohorts on most primary outcome measures, including length of stay, DASS scores at admission and at discharge and CGI-S scores at admission. Patients who had not participated in the walking group had a significantly lower score on a single measure, the CGI-S, than patients who had participated (p=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed no evidence that in-patients benefited from participating in the physical activity program. However, this must be interpreted within the confines of a number of study limitations and, as such, the findings can neither support nor refute the effectiveness of physical activities. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details   Related Articles Molecular genetics of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) deficiency in the Maltese population. Mar 2007 Rosienne Farrugia,Christian A Scerri,Simon Attard Montalto,Raymond Parascandolo,Brian G R Neville,Alex E Felice Deficient activity of the Dihydropteridine Reductase enzyme (DHPR; EC 1.5.1.34; OMIM 261630) is due to mutations in the Quinoid Dihydropteridine Reductase gene on 4p15.3 (QDPR; RefSeq NM_000320). It results in defective recycling of tetrahydrobiopterin (BH(4)) and homozygotes have a rare form of at... ( view more )ypical Hyperphenylalaninaemia and Phenylketonuria (aPKU). The heterozygote frequency in the Maltese population is high at 3.3%. The more recently described and rarer type of BH(4) deficiency due to Sepiapterin Reductase enzyme deficiency (SR; EC 1.1.1.153; OMIM 182125), which presents as an atypical form of Dopa Responsive Dystonia (DRD) [L. Bonafe, B. Thony, J.M. Penzien, B. Czarnecki, N. Blau, Mutations in the sepiapterin reductase gene cause a novel tetrahydrobiopterin-dependent monoamine-neurotransmitter deficiency without hyperphenylalaninemia, Am. J. Hum. Genet. 69 (2001) 269-277; B.R.G. Neville, R. Parascandalo, S. Attard Montalto, R. Farrugia, A.E. Felice, A congenital dopa responsive motor disorder: a Maltese variant due to sepiapterin reductase deficiency, Brain 128 (Pt10) (2005) 2291-2296.] has also been identified at high frequency (4.6%) in this population. Two mutations, the c.68G>A in QDPR (p.G23D), and the new SPR, IVS2-2A>G mutation at the splice site consensus sequence in intron 2 of the Sepiapterin Reductase gene (SPR; RefSeq NM_003124) on 2p14-p12, were found to be the sole causative mutations in all the patients with DHPR deficiency and SR deficiency studied. All parents were heterozygotes for the corresponding mutation and showed no clinical symptoms. Three polymorphisms, c.96C>T (p.A32A), c. 345G>A (p.S115S) and c. 396G>A (p.L132L), have also been identified in the QDPR gene, defining four wild-type frameworks, useful in molecular epidemiology studies. The c. 68G>A mutation in QDPR was found only on framework I, suggesting a founder effect. In contrast no additional sequence diversity was found in the SPR gene whether in wild-type or mutant alleles which is also consistent with a founder effect. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details   Related Articles Mitochondrial creatine kinase activity prevents reactive oxygen species generation: antioxidant role of mitochondrial kinase-dependent ADP re-cycling activity. Dec 8, 2006 Laudiene Evangelista Meyer,Lilia Bender Machado,Ana Paula S A Santiago,Wagner Seixas da-Silva,Fernanda G De Felice,Oliver Holub,Marcus F Oliveira,Antonio Galina As recently demonstrated by our group (da-Silva, W. S., Gómez-Puyou, A., Gómez-Puyou, M. T., Moreno-Sanchez, R., De Felice, F. G., de Meis, L., Oliveira, M. F., and Galina, A. (2004) J. Biol. Chem. 279, 39846-39855) mitochondrial hexokinase activity (mt-HK) plays a preventive antioxidant role becau... ( view more )se of steady-state ADP re-cycling through the inner mitochondrial membrane in rat brain. In the present work we show that ADP re-cycling accomplished by the mitochondrial creatine kinase (mt-CK) regulates reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, particularly in high glucose concentrations. Activation of mt-CK by creatine (Cr) and ATP or ADP, induced a state 3-like respiration in isolated brain mitochondria and prevention of H(2)O(2) production obeyed the steady-state kinetics of the enzyme to phosphorylate Cr. The extension of the preventive antioxidant role of mt-CK depended on the phosphocreatine (PCr)/Cr ratio. Rat liver mitochondria, which lack mt-CK activity, only reduced state 4-induced H(2)O(2) generation when 1 order of magnitude more exogenous CK activity was added to the medium. Simulation of hyperglycemic conditions, by the inclusion of glucose 6-phosphate in mitochondria performing 2-deoxyglucose phosphorylation via mt-HK, induced H(2)O(2) production in a Cr-sensitive manner. Simulation of hyperglycemia in embryonic rat brain cortical neurons increased both DeltaPsi(m) and ROS production and both parameters were decreased by the previous inclusion of Cr. Taken together, the results presented here indicate that mitochondrial kinase activity performed a key role as a preventive antioxidant against oxidative stress, reducing mitochondrial ROS generation through an ADP-recycling mechanism. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details   Related Articles Tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1beta regulate interleukin-8 expression in third trimester decidual cells: implications for the genesis of chorioamnionitis. Oct 2006 Charles J Lockwood,Felice Arcuri,Paolo Toti,Claudio De Felice,Graciela Krikun,Seth Guller,Lynn F Buchwalder,Frederick Schatz Chorioamnionitis is associated with intense neutrophil infiltration of the decidua. We therefore determined whether chorioamnionitis enhances decidual interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression and examined cytokine-regulated decidual IL-8 expression. Decidua from chorioamnionitis-complicated pregnancies, but... ( view more ) not term controls, displayed marked IL-8 immunohistochemical staining and a dense neutrophil infiltrate. Reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of microdissected decidual cells identified IL-8 mRNA, confirming decidual synthesis of IL-8. Confluent leukocyte-free term decidual cells were primed with 10(-8) mol/L estradiol (E2) or E2 + 10(-7) mol/L medroxyprogesterone acetate to mimic the steroidal milieu of pregnancy. Compared with cultures maintained in E2 alone, E2 + medroxyprogesterone acetate neither significantly affected IL-8 levels nor altered the response to the cytokines. The addition of 1.0 ng/ml tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) or interleukin-1 beta (IL-1beta) increased IL-8 secretion levels by 236.6 +/- 51.4- and 1062.6 +/- 254.3-fold, respectively (n = 8, mean +/- SEM, P < 0.05), as measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Concentration-response studies revealed that 0.01 ng/ml TNF-alpha and IL-1beta elevated IL-8 output by 10- and 100-fold, respectively. Western blotting confirmed these results, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction demonstrated parallel changes in mRNA levels. In conclusion, IL-8 is strongly expressed in term decidua during chorioamnionitis, and TNF-alpha and IL-1beta enhance IL-8 expression in term decidual cells, suggesting that these cytokines are important regulators of chorioamnionitis-related decidual neutrophil infiltration. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Novel neuroprotective, neuritogenic and anti-amyloidogenic properties of 2,4-dinitrophenol: the gentle face of Janus. Apr 2006 Fernanda G De Felice,Sérgio T Ferreira In Roman mythology, Janus was the god of gates, doors, beginnings and endings. He was usually depicted with two faces looking in opposite directions. Janus was frequently used to symbolize change and transitions, such as the progression from past to future or from one viewpoint to another. 2,4-dini... ( view more )trophenol (DNP) and other nitrophenols have long been known to be toxic at high concentrations (the 'bad' face of DNP), an effect that appears essentially related to interference with cellular energy metabolism due to uncoupling of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation. Five years ago, however, we published the first report showing that low concentrations of DNP protect neurons against the toxicity of the amyloid-beta peptide (De Felice et al. (2001) FASEB J. 15:1297 - 1299]. Since then, other studies have provided evidence of beneficial actions of DNP (at low concentrations), including neuroprotection against different types of insult, blockade of amyloid aggregation, stimulation of neurite outgrowth and neuronal differentiation, and even extension of lifespan in certain organisms. Some of these effects appear to be due to mild mitochondrial uncoupling and prevention of cellular oxidative stress, whereas other actions are related to activation of additional intracellular signaling pathways. Thus, a novel and 'gentle' face of DNP is emerging from such studies. In this review, we discuss both toxic and beneficial actions of DNP. The evidence available so far suggests that DNP and other compounds with similar biological activities may be of significant interest to the development of novel therapeutic approaches for neurodegenerative diseases and other neurological disorders. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Low serum concentrations of di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate in women with uterine fibromatosis. Feb 2006 Stefano Luisi,Giuseppe Latini,Claudio de Felice,Francesca Sanseverino,Dorina di Pasquale,Pietro Mazzeo,Felice Petraglia Di-(2-ethylhexyl)phthalate (DEHP) is the most commonly used plasticizer in flexible polyvinylchloride formulations, and is a widespread ubiquitous environmental contaminant. A potential role of exposure to DEHP and its primary metabolite, monoethylhexylphthalate (MEHP), on women's reproductive func... ( view more )tion is suggested in the current study. The aim of the study was to test serum concentrations of DEHP and/or MEHP in women with uterine fibromatosis. Two groups of women were enrolled in the study: (i) women with uterine fibromatosis undergoing surgical menopause (n = 15) and (ii) healthy women (n = 20). Serum DEHP and MEHP concentrations were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Serum MEHP distribution was found to be non-Gaussian (p = 0.001) while serum DEHP distribution was compatible with a normal curve (p = 0.141). Patients with uterine fibromatosis showed significantly lower serum MEHP concentrations (median [interquartile range]: 0 [0-0] microg/ml, range: 0-0.57 microg/ml) than controls (0.42 [0-0.51] microg/ml, range: 0-1.20 microg/ml, z = -2.93, p = 0.0034). Likewise, serum DEHP concentrations in women with fibromatosis were found to be significantly lower than in controls (patients: 0.27 +/- 0.096 microg/ml (mean +/- standard deviation (SD)), range: 0.14-0.59 microg/ml vs. controls: 0.30 +/- 0.14 microg/ml (mean +/- SD), range: 0-0.63 microg/ml; t = 3.212, df = 33, difference: -0.325 (95% confidence interval: -0.5309, -0.1191), p = 0.0029). In conclusion, the present findings indicate for the first time that serum DEHP and MEHP concentration are lower in women with uterine fibromatosis, suggesting a possible correlation between phthalate esters and fibromatosis pathology. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Allergen skin weal/radioallergosorbent test relationship in childhood populations that differ in histamine skin reactivity: a multi-national survey. Jan 2005 R Ronchetti,M P Villa,Z Rennerova,J Haluszka,E B Dawi,G Di Felice,G D Felice,A Al-Bousafy,J Zakrzewski,B Barletta,M Barreto BACKGROUND: Histamine skin reactivity (HSR, the dimension of the skin weal elicited by histamine 10 mg/mL) is a variable that differs in children from different European countries and increases over time in the same place (Italy). OBJECTIVE: In this epidemiologic study, we investigated to what exte... ( view more )nt differences in HSR influence the relationship between positive allergen skin prick tests (ASPTs) and serum-specific IgE concentrations. METHODS: Between October 2001 and February 2002, 591 unselected 9-10-year-old schoolchildren drawn from five small towns in central Poland (Starachowice), central Italy (Ronciglione, Guardea) and Libya (Al-Azyzia, near the Mediterranean sea and Samno, 900 km south of the coast) were analysed for histamine, common ASPT and for serum total and specific IgE. RESULTS: HSR differed markedly in children from the three countries (Libya>Italy>Poland) whereas serum total IgE concentrations remained the same. The prevalence of children with measurable serum specific IgE (> or = 0.35 kU) or with a positive ASPT for five common allergens was high in Italy, lower in Poland and far lower in Libya. A 3-mm ASPT weal corresponded to a serum-specific IgE concentration that was two to threefold higher in children with low HSR compared with children with high HSR (P = 0.008). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that HSR--a variable that differs in schoolchildren populations from the three countries studied--independently influences the results of ASPT and its influence should be considered when ASPT are assessed in international studies. The HSR differences found in the populations reported here probably reflect a complex, dynamic, environmental interaction that should be monitored in the different parts of the world. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles The power of the 'pretty picture'. Jul 2004 Felice Frankel Images used in science communication do not always show the subject matter in the best or most informative way. Felice Frankel describes the role of the beautiful image as a successful and compelling wat to communicate complex ideas. View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Placental stress factors and maternal-fetal adaptive response: the corticotropin-releasing factor family. Oct 2002 Pasquale Florio,Filiberto M Severi,Pasquapina Ciarmela,Giovina Fiore,Giulia Calonaci,Angelica Merola,Claudio De Felice,Marco Palumbo,Felice Petraglia The placenta and its accessory membranes amnion and chorion undertake the role of intermediary barriers and active messengers in the maternal-fetal dialog. They synthesize, metabolize, and serve as target to numerous hormones that regulate maternal and fetal physiology during pregnancy. Among these... ( view more ) factors, corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) has been one of the more investigated in the last decade. Increasing evidence indicates that in the event of acute or chronic metabolic, physical, or infectious stress, maternal or fetal physiologic and pathologic conditions may influence placental secretion of CRF. The current opinion is that the placenta actually takes part in a stress syndrome by releasing CRF, which may help to influence uterine perfusion, maternal metabolism, fluid balance, and possibly uterine contractility, thereby protecting the fetus from a hostile environment. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Identification of activin A and follistatin in human milk. Sep 2002 Stefano Luisi,Giulia Calonaci,Pasquale Florio,Ilaria Lombardi,Claudio De Felice,Franco Bagnoli,Felice Petraglia Activin A is a dimeric protein member of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) family: it is synthesized by a variety of organs and follistatin is an activin-binding protein. A sensitive and specific assays for bioactive dimeric activin A and follistatin have recently allowed to measure th... ( view more )ese proteins in blood and other biological fluids, giving a new insights into their possible physiological role. Since human breast is able to produce activin A, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether it and follistatin are measurable in breast milk of women during lactation. Concentrations of activin A and follistatin were measured in milk samples collected at 3, 5 and 30 days after delivery by using specific and sensitive two-site ELISAs. For the first time the presence of immunoreactive activin A and follistatin in human milk has been shown; no significant different concentration between the third and the fifth day after delivery was found. Furthermore, no difference of activin A and follistatin concentration between the whole and the skim milk or between spontaneous delivery and cesarean section was found. Milk activin A and follistatin concentrations after 1 month of lactation were significantly decreased (P < 0.01). Activin A and follistatin are present in human milk in high concentrations in the first week of lactation, while decrease after a month suggesting a possible role as growth factors in human milk. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Expression of urocortin mRNA and peptide in the human prostate and in prostatic adenocarcinoma. Aug 1, 2002 Felice Arcuri,Marcella Cintorino,Pasquale Florio,Federica Floccari,Loreta Pergola,Roberta Romagnoli,Felice Petraglia,Piero Tosi,Maria Teresa Del Vecchio BACKGROUND: Urocortin (UCN) is a recently described neuropeptide member of the CRF family, responsible for the secretion of the proopiomelanocortin-derived peptides from the pituitary gland. Although previous results have demonstrated the synthesis of several neuroendocrine factors in the prostate,... ( view more ) no studies have been carried out on the expression of UCN in the human gland. METHODS: UCN expression was evaluated in benign prostatic hyperplasia and prostatic tumor tissues by RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: UCN mRNA and peptide were demonstrated in all specimens tested. In nonneoplastic tissues, UCN was localized in the secretory luminal epithelial and basal layer cells, in the smooth muscle component of the stroma, and in lymphoid infiltrates. An intense immunostaining was evident in prostate adenocarcinoma cells. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the present study demonstrate for the first time UCN expression in the human prostate and in prostate cancer, and suggest a potential involvement of UCN in prostate physiopathology. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Small thymus at birth: a predictive radiographic sign of bronchopulmonary dysplasia. Aug 2002 Claudio De Felice,Giuseppe Latini,Antonio Del Vecchio,Paolo Toti,Franco Bagnoli,Felice Petraglia OBJECTIVE: Emerging evidence indicates a relationship between bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) and chorioamnionitis. Recent data provide evidence of an acute thymic involution in very low birth weight (VLBW) preterm infants and fetuses with histologic chorioamnionitis. We tested the hypothesis that... ( view more ) a small thymus detected at birth on the routine chest radiograph is a predictor of BPD in VLBW infants. METHODS: A prospective study was conducted on 400 VLBW preterm infants who survived >4 weeks (mean gestational age: 27.5 weeks [range: 24-30]; mean birth weight: 1010 g [range: 450-1450]). Thymic size was measured on routine chest radiographs taken in the first 6 hours after birth and expressed as the ratio between the transverse diameter of the cardiothymic image at the level of the carina and that of the thorax (CT/T). The accuracy of CT/T for identifying infants with BPD was tested using receiver operating characteristic curve analyses and multivariate logistic regression. RESULTS: Fifty-one VLBW infants (12.7%) subsequently developed BPD. A small thymus (CT/T <0.28) was observed in 94.1% of the infants with BPD versus 2.9% of the infants without BPD. A small thymus at birth identified infants with BPD with 94.1% sensitivity and 98.3% specificity (odds ratio: 17.8; 95% confidence interval: 5.7-55.4). CONCLUSIONS: A small thymus at birth on the standard chest radiograph can accurately identify VLBW infants who subsequently develop BPD. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Polyhydramnios: a predictor of severe growth impairment in achondroplasia. Aug 2002 Giuseppe Latini,Claudio De Felice,Stefano Parrini,Alberto Verrotti,Giovanni Di Maggio,Felice Petraglia The phenotypical characteristics in 20 children with achondroplasia were examined in relation to the occurrence of polyhydramnios. A history of polyhydramnios (9 of 20 cases) was associated with a lower height (SD) (P <.05), more severe shortening of the lower segment and upper limbs (P =.0001), an... ( view more )d higher frequency of left-handedness (P =.0081). ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Presence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor in human milk: evidence in the aqueous phase and milk fat globules. May 2002 Barbara Magi,Francesca Ietta,Roberta Romagnoli,Sabrina Liberatori,Vitaliano Pallini,Luca Bini,Sergio A Tripodi,Marcella Cintorino,Francesca Chellini,Felice Arcuri,Claudio De Felice,Luana Paulesu Human milk is a source of bioactive substances regulating the development and activity of the newborn immune system. Human milk has been found to contain a number of cytokines, including interleukins, growth factors, and colony stimulating factors. In the present study, we assessed 10 specimens of ... ( view more )human milk for the presence of macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF), a cytokine recently described in several human reproductive organs and tissues. Using biochemical as well as immunologic techniques, we showed that MIF is abundantly present in human milk, mostly distributed in the lipid layer and in the aqueous phase. Fractionation of the lipid layer showed that MIF is highly concentrated inside milk fat globules. In view of its proinflammatory features, we speculate that milk MIF may protect the newborn against infection and play a role in preserving the functionality of the lactating mammary gland. Furthermore, the localization of MIF in lipid globules suggests a possible strategy for the protection of milk cytokines from the gastric barrier. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Early impairment of synaptic plasticity in patients with Down's syndrome. Aug 2008 Fortunato Battaglia,Angelo Quartarone,Vincenzo Rizzo,Maria Felice Ghilardi,Alessandro Di Rocco,Gaetano Tortorella,Paolo Girlanda We investigated synaptic plasticity in persons with Down' syndrome (DS) and control subjects used paired associative stimulation (PAS) protocol, a paradigm capable of producing long-term potentiation (LTP)-like changes in the sensorimotor system. After PAS, patients showed less LTP-like plasticity ... ( view more )compared to control subjects. Abnormal motor cortex synaptic plasticity may play a role in the development of motor signs in DS. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Low birth weight and later development of insulin resistance and biochemical/clinical features of polycystic ovary syndrome. Jul 2008 Caterina Pandolfi,Antonella Zugaro,Francesca Lattanzio,Stefano Necozione,Arcangelo Barbonetti,Maria Simonetta Colangeli,Sandro Francavilla,Felice Francavilla Reduced insulin sensitivity in adult life has been reported in subjects born at term small for gestational age (SGA) and in those born prematurely with very low birth weight (LBW) (<1500 g). We assessed whether LBW (<2500 g) young women, irrespective of whether they were born SGA or adequate for ge... ( view more )stational age (premature AGA), exhibited a reduction in insulin sensitivity through a prospective historical design. The risk of developing biochemical and clinical features of polycystic ovary syndrome was also investigated. The study population included 35 LBW women (19 SGA [BW range, 1000-2400 g] and 16 premature AGA [BW range, 1700-2440 g]) aged 21.8 +/- 1.8 years and 35 term AGA controls, of similar age, recruited from a neonatal registry. All women underwent clinical, ultrasonographic, hormonal, and metabolic evaluations, including the composite insulin sensitivity index. Women under hormonal contraception (21.4%) were excluded from hormonal and metabolic analyses. Composite insulin sensitivity index was significantly lower in LBW women even when the 2 LBW subgroups, SGA and premature AGA, were analyzed separately (4.4 +/- 2.2 and 4.0 +/- 1.7, respectively) than in controls (6.9 +/- 4.4). The LBW women showed a significantly higher incidence proportion of irregular menses (14/35 [40%] vs 2/35 [5.7%]) and a significantly higher free androgen index (5.8 +/- 3.5 vs 3.9 +/- 3.2). They also showed a nonsignificantly higher proportion of hirsutism, acne, and polycystic ovaries. In conclusion, LBW (<2500 g) young women, irrespective of whether they were SGA and premature AGA, exhibited a reduction in insulin sensitivity as compared with born at term AGA women. Furthermore, they exhibited an increased risk of developing clinical and biochemical features of polycystic ovary syndrome. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Oral aphthous-like lesions, PFAPA syndrome: a review. Jul 2008 Felice Femiano,Alessandro Lanza,Curzio Buonaiuto,Fernando Gombos,Nicola Cirillo Aphthous ulcers are the most common oral mucosal lesions in the general population. Several precipitating factors for aphthous ulcers are suggested to operate on subjects with genetic predisposition. Sometimes aphthous ulcers can be the sign of systemic diseases. Therefore, it is essential to estab... ( view more )lish a correct diagnosis to determine suitable therapy. There are several diseases potentially responsible for oral ulcers. Sometimes appearance of periodic oral ulcers coincides with periodic fever and other symptoms leading to the diagnosis of a rare childhood disease: PFAPA (periodic fever, aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and adenopathy) syndrome. PFAPA or Marshall's syndrome is characterized by abrupt onset of periodic episodes of high fever accompanied by aphthous stomatitis, pharyngitis and cervical adenitis, often associated with headache and / or abdominal or joint pain. Owing to the periodic onset of oral symptoms, often an oral physician or pediatric dentist may be the first healthcare worker to evaluate a child with clinical signs compatible with PFAPA syndrome. Children diagnosed with this condition require systematic oral follow-up to monitor for signs of ulceration. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Determining immunisation coverage rates in primary health care practices: a simple goal but a complex task. Jul 2008 Felicity Goodyear-Smith,Cameron Grant,Deon York,Tim Kenealy,Jackie Copp,Helen Petousis-Harris,Nikki Turner,Ngaire Kerse PURPOSE: To explore the quality of data recording by practices and identify issues to be considered and addressed before such data can be used as a continuous measure of immunisation delivery. METHODS: One hundred and twenty-four randomly selected general practices visited to measure immunisation c... ( view more )overage using the various practice management systems (PMS) in use. To capture all target children it was necessary to build two queries: one generated a list of all children aged between 6 weeks and 2 years who had been to the practice, regardless of enrollment status; the other asked dates and nature of all immunisations given. Each different PMS required a unique query to extract the necessary information. RESULTS: Variability encountered included different types and versions of PMS and operating systems; variable degree of staff technical competence with their PMS; proportion of enrolled children ranging from nearly 0 to 100%; lack of consistency of the nature and location of data entry and coding; and unreliability of dates relating to some vaccination events. RECOMMENDATIONS: To improve recording of immunisation coverage we recommend a standard early age of registration and enrollment; standard definitions of the denominator and of immunisation delay; greater uniformity of PMS; improved staff training; intrinsic data quality checks; integration of PMS with changes in the immunisation schedule; incentives and interval electronic checks to improve data quality. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Optimising the benefits of unobserved dose administration for stable opioid maintenance patients: Follow-up of a randomised trial. Jul 1, 2008 James R Bell,Anni Ryan,Carolyn Mutch,Robert Batey,Felicity Rea BACKGROUND: The registration of combination buprenorphine/naloxone, a formulation designed to reduce risk of diversion, has led some Australian jurisdictional authorities to allow treatment without direct observation of dosing for stable, opioid-dependent patients. AIM: To compare two approaches (1... ( view more )) initiating treatment with observed dosing, then allowing patients who demonstrate stability to change to unobserved dosing; or (2) initiating patients with unobserved dosing, subsequently requiring those who fail to stabilize to change to observed treatment. METHODS: This study builds on an RCT comparing efficacy of observed and unobserved treatment at 3 months. At the conclusion of the RCT, clinically "stable" subjects were allocated to continue without observed dosing, while those who did not demonstrate stability were allocated to observed dosing. Subjects were followed for a further 3 months. Primary end-point was retention in treatment. RESULTS: Of 119 subjects randomised, 70 were retained in treatment to 3 months. Forty-five stable subjects were allocated to unobserved dosing, 25 to observation. Unstable subjects allocated to observed treatment were more likely to drop out thereafter (OR 2.14, 95% CI 1.09-4.19). There was a non-significant trend for people initiated with observed dosing to be better retained during the allocation phase; at 6 months, 13 subjects (22%) from the original unobserved group, and 22 (34%) from the observed group, were retained in treatment (chi(2)=2.10, 1df, p=0.15). CONCLUSIONS: Withdrawal of unobserved doses led to marked attrition from treatment. If access to unobserved dosing is to be restricted to stable patients, it appears preferable to initiate dosing with observation and allow unobserved doses for people who successfully stabilize, than to initiate with unobserved doses and transfer unstable patients to observation. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Evaluation of drinking water treatment and quality in Takua Pa, Thailand. Jul 2008 Carlo Collivignarelli,Prapin Tharnpoopasiam,Mentore Vaccari,Valentina De Felice,Veronica Di Bella,Suwalee Worakhunpiset After 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami, which hit and devastated several Countries in Southeast Asia, University of Brescia and Mahidol University started a project on water monitoring and treatment for drinking purposes in Takua Pa district (Thailand), the most damaged by the tsunami. In particular, this... ( view more ) paper presents the results of a study conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Takua Pa drinking water treatment plant and to identify actions that could be adopted to improve its performances. The results show that, even if the effluent usually meets Thai guide values, except for pH which is already too acid in the influent, the plant needs several structural and managerial improvements, such as filtration and sedimentation upgrade, coagulation/flocculation and final disinfection re-organization, use of proper registers to better plan and control employees activities. Moreover, it was determined that water quality in the distribution network is characterized by turbidity and organic matter values higher than those evaluated in the plant effluent. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Choline pivaloyl ester enhances brain expression of both nerve growth factor and high-affinity receptor TrkA, and reverses memory and cognitive deficits, in rats with excitotoxic lesion of nucleus basalis magnocellularis. Jun 26, 2008 Vincenzo Rispoli,Rosario Marra,Nicola Costa,Domenicantonio Rotiroti,Paola Tirassa,Luigi Scipione,Daniela De Vita,Felice Liberatore,Vincenzo Carelli The aim of present work was the evaluation of the effects on brain levels of nerve growth factor (NGF) and of its high-affinity tyrosine kinase A receptor (TrkA), induced in rats unilaterally lesioned at nucleus basalis magnocellularis (NBM), by treatment with choline pivaloyl ester (CPE). CPE was ... ( view more )daily administered (60 micromol/Kg ip) during 3 weeks to rats selectively lesioned by AMPA infusion into right NBM; the intact left NBM serving as control. NGF levels were determined in cerebral cortex and hippocampus by Elisa assay. TrkA receptor expression was evaluated in right NBM by Western blotting analysis. CPE treatment significantly increased NGF levels in both hippocampus and neocortex in right NBM, compared with intact left counter-part and controls. Western blotting showed an evident enhancement in TrkA receptor expression in lesioned right NBM in comparison with intact left counter-part and controls. CPE treatment was also able to restore, in bilaterally NBM-lesioned rats, the disrupted cortical EEG and HVS activities as well as to reverse deficits in learning and memory in spatial navigation and probe trials, and cognitive capacities in object recognition task. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles High glucose downregulates endothelial progenitor cell number via SIRT1. Jun 2008 Maria Luisa Balestrieri,Monica Rienzo,Francesca Felice,Raffaele Rossiello,Vincenzo Grimaldi,Lara Milone,Amelia Casamassimi,Luigi Servillo,Bartolomeo Farzati,Alfonso Giovane,Claudio Napoli Increasing evidence indicates that mammalian SIRT1 mediates calorie restriction and influences lifespan regulating a number of biological molecules such as FoxO1. SIRT1 controls the angiogenic activity of endothelial cells via deacetylation of FoxO1. Endothelial dysfunction and reduced new blood ve... ( view more )ssel growth in diabetes involve a decreased bioactivity of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) via repression of FoxO1 transcriptional activity. The relative contribution of SIRT1 with respect to the direct effects of high glucose on EPC number is poorly understood. We report that treatment of EPCs with high glucose for 3 days determined a consistent downregulation of EPC positive to DiLDL/lectin staining and, interestingly, this was associated with reduced SIRT1 expression levels and enzyme activity, and increased acetyl-FoxO1 expression levels. Moreover, EPCs responded to high glucose with major changes in the expression levels of cell metabolism-, cell cycle-, and oxidative stress-related genes or proteins. Proteomic analysis shows increased expression of nicotinamide phosphorybosyl transferase and mitochondrial superoxide dismutase whereas a glucose-related heat shock protein is reduced. These findings show that SIRT1 is a critical modulator of EPCs dysfunction during alteration of glucose metabolism. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Liver resection for primary intrahepatic stones: a single-center experience. Jun 2008 Gennaro Nuzzo,Gennaro Clemente,Ivo Giovannini,Agostino M De Rose,Maria Vellone,Gerardo Sarno,Domenico Marchi,Felice Giuliante HYPOTHESIS: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis occurs frequently in East Asia but is rare in Western countries. Biliary pain and episodes of cholangitis are the most common presenting symptoms, whereas intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma represents a long-term unfavorable complication of the disease. When ... ( view more )a single liver lobe or segment is involved, partial hepatectomy may be regarded today as an effective method of treatment. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: Hepatobiliary unit in a tertiary care hospital. PATIENTS: The clinical records of 35 patients treated for primary intrahepatic lithiasis between January 1, 1992, and December 31, 2005, were reviewed and clinical data, cholangiograms, operative procedures, and early and late results were examined. INTERVENTIONS: Thirty-four patients underwent liver resection; left hepatectomy (18 patients) and left lateral segmentectomy (10 patients) were the most frequently performed procedures. A cholangiocarcinoma was found in 3 patients (8.6%): 2 underwent liver resection and 1, who was found unresectable at surgery, underwent only explorative laparotomy. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Survival, quality of life, laboratory data, and need for further treatments. RESULTS: There was no postoperative mortality. Morbidity was 20.0% with a prevalence of infectious complications related to bile leakage. Long-term results, assessed in 26 patients with follow-up longer than 12 months (range, 12-170 months; mean, 63 months), were good or fair in 24 patients (92.3%), including 3 patients who needed subsequent endoscopic removal of biliary stones. CONCLUSIONS: Primary intrahepatic lithiasis more commonly involves 1 single liver segment or lobe. Partial hepatectomy is a safe and effective procedure, allowing definitive treatment of the disease and prevention of cancer. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Anthrax lethal toxin enhances TNF-induced endothelial VCAM-1 expression via an IFN regulatory factor-1-dependent mechanism. Jun 1, 2008 Jason M Warfel,Felice D'Agnillo Impaired host defenses and vascular dysfunction are hallmarks of the late, antibiotic-refractory stages of systemic anthrax infection. Anthrax lethal toxin (LT), a key virulence factor of Bacillus anthracis, was previously shown to enhance VCAM-1 expression on primary human endothelial cells sugges... ( view more )ting a causative link between dysregulated adhesion molecule expression and the poor immune response and vasculitis associated with anthrax. In this study, we report that LT amplification of TNF-induced VCAM-1 expression is driven transcriptionally by the cooperative activation of NF-kappaB and IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1). LT enhancement of NF-kappaB phosphorylation and nuclear translocation correlated temporally with a delayed reaccumulation of IkappaBalpha, while increased induction of IRF-1 was linked to STAT1 activation. LT failed to augment TNF-induced ICAM-1 or E-selectin expression, two adhesion molecules regulated by NF-kappaB, but not IRF-1. These results suggest that LT can differentially modulate NF-kappaB target genes and highlight the importance of IRF-1 in VCAM-1 enhancement. Altering the activity of key transcription factors involved in host response to infection may be a critical mechanism by which LT contributes to anthrax pathogenesis. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Influence of clinical communication on patients' decision making on participation in clinical trials. Jun 1, 2008 Terrance L Albrecht,Susan S Eggly,Marci E J Gleason,Felicity W K Harper,Tanina S Foster,Amy M Peterson,Heather Orom,Louis A Penner,John C Ruckdeschel PURPOSE: To investigate how communication among physicians, patients, and family/companions influences patients' decision making about participation in clinical trials. PATIENTS AND METHODS: We video recorded 235 outpatient interactions occurring among oncologists, patients, and family/companions (... ( view more )if present) at two comprehensive cancer centers. We combined interaction analysis of the real-time video-recorded observations (collected at Time 1) with patient self-reports (Time 2) to determine how communication about trial offers influenced accrual decisions. RESULTS: Clinical trials were explicitly offered in 20% of the interactions. When offers were made and patients perceived they were offered a trial, 75% of patients assented. Observed messages (at Time 1) directly related to patients' self-reports regarding their decisions (2 weeks later), and how they felt about their decisions and their physicians. Specifically, messages that help build a sense of an alliance (among all parties, including the family/companions), provide support (tangible assistance and reassurance about managing adverse effects), and provide medical content in language that patients and family/companions understand are associated with the patient's decision and decision-making process. CONCLUSION: In two urban, National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers, a large percentage of patients are not offered trials. When offered a trial, most patients enroll. The quality and quantity of communication occurring among the oncologist, patient, and family/companion when trials are discussed matter in the patient's decision-making process. These findings can help increase physician awareness of the ways that messages and communication behaviors can be observed and evaluated to improve clinical practice and research. ( view less ) View Full Abstract View Article Details View Coded Data Related Articles Page 1 of 77 1 2 3 4 > Last >> (1921 articles found)

      
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