Pathophysiology of fibroid disease: angiogenesis and regulation of smooth muscle proliferation

Uterine fibroids are the most common tumours presenting in women. The pathophysiology of fibroids is poorly understood, but disordered angiogenesis and altered smooth muscle cell proliferation are believed to play a role. In this review, current knowledge of both of these processes will be summarized. Differences between 'normal' adjacent myometrium and fibroid tumours within the same uterus are outlined. Exploiting these differences represents one of the best opportunities for the development of medical treatments that target fibroid tissue selectively.     

Carrier frequency of autosomal-recessive disorders in the Ashkenazi Jewish population: should the rationale for mutation choice for screening be reevaluated?

BACKGROUND: Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population is at increased risk for several recessive inherited diseases. Therefore, carrier testing of AJ members is important in order to identify couples at risk of having offspring with an autosomal recessive disorder. METHODS: In the present study, a database containing the results of 28 410 genotyping assays was screened. Ten thousand seventy eight nonselected healthy members of the AJ population were tested for carrier status for the following diseases; Gaucher disease (GD), cystic fibrosis (CF), Familial dysautonomia (FD), Alpha 1 antitrypsin (A1AT), Mucolipidosis type 4 (ML4), Fanconi anemia type C (FAC), Canavan disease (CD), Neimann-Pick type 4 (NP) and Bloom syndrome (BLM). RESULTS: The results demonstrated that 635 members were carriers of one mutation and 30 members were found to be carriers of two mutations in the different genes related to the development of the above mentioned diseases. GD was found to have the highest carrier frequency (1:17) followed by CF (1:23), FD (1:29), A1AT (1:65), ML4 (1:67) and FAC (1:77). The carrier frequency of CD, NP and BLM was 1:82, 1:103 and 1:157, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: The frequency of the disease-causing mutations screened routinely among the AJ population indicated that there are rare mutations with very low frequencies. The screening policy of the disease-causing mutations should be reevaluated and mutations with a high frequency should be screened, while rare mutations with a lower frequency may be tested in partners of carriers.     

Using an Ultrasound Elasticity Microscope to Map Three-Dimensional Strain in a Porcine Cornea

An ultrasound elasticity microscope was used to map 3-D strain volume in an ex vivo porcine cornea to illustrate its ability to measure the mechanical properties of this tissue. Mechanical properties of the cornea play an important role in its function and, therefore, also in ophthalmic diseases such as kerataconus and corneal ectasia. The ultrasound elasticity microscope combines a tightly focused high-frequency transducer with confocal scanning to produce high-quality speckle over the entire volume of tissue. This system and the analysis were able to generate volume maps of compressional strain in all three directions for porcine corneal tissue, more information than any previous study has reported. Strain volume maps indicated features of the cornea and mechanical behavior as expected. These results constitute a step toward better understanding of corneal mechanics and better treatment of corneal diseases.     

Coronary stent bacterial infection with multiple organ septic emboli

We describe an 80-year-old patient who developed Staphylococcus aureus septicemia several days after the implantation of a double stent in the proximal and mid-left anterior descending artery. The infection was complicated by multiple abscesses in the lungs and liver, as well as by bilateral bacterial endophthalmitis requiring right vitrectomy. Long-term antibiotic treatment was successful. Rarity notwithstanding, heightened awareness of this potential complication of a common cardiac procedure is important since diagnosis and immediate therapy are mandatory.     

Pediatric emergency department triage-based pain guideline utilizing intranasal fentanyl: Effect of implementation

Background

Pain management guidelines in the emergency department (ED) may reduce time to analgesia administration (TTA). Intranasal fentanyl (INF) is a safe and effective alternative to intravenous opiates. The effect of an ED pain management guideline providing standing orders for nurse-initiated administration of intranasal fentanyl (INF) is not known. The objective of this study was to determine the impact of a pediatric ED triage-based pain protocol utilizing intranasal fentanyl (INF) on time to analgesia administration (TTA) and patient and parent satisfaction.

Listening to food workers: Factors that impact proper health and hygiene practice in food service

Background

Foodborne disease is a significant problem worldwide. Research exploring sources of outbreaks indicates a pronounced role for food workers'' improper health and hygiene practice.

Objective

To investigate food workers'' perceptions of factors that impact proper food safety practice.

Method

Interviews with food service workers in Baltimore, MD, USA discussing food safety practices and factors that impact implementation in the workplace. A social ecological model organizes multiple levels of influence on health and hygiene behavior.

Results

Issues raised by interviewees include factors across the five levels of the social ecological model, and confirm findings from previous work. Interviews also reveal many factors not highlighted in prior work, including issues with food service policies and procedures, working conditions (e.g., pay and benefits), community resources, and state and federal policies.

Conclusion

Food safety interventions should adopt an ecological orientation that accounts for factors at multiple levels, including workers'' social and structural context, that impact food safety practice.     

Hexavalent chromium ion and methyl orange dye uptake via a silk protein sericin–chitosan conjugate

Sericin, a protein waste product of the silk industry, was crosslinked with chitosan, and a chitosan–sericin conjugate (CS) was prepared, characterized and used to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(vi)) ions and methyl orange (MO) dye from aqueous solutions. The CS was shown to effectively remove Cr(vi) ions and MO dye at maximum adsorption capacities (Langmuir) of 139 mg g⁻¹ for Cr(vi) ions and 385 mg g⁻¹ for MO dye. Moreover, the adsorption of both Cr(vi) ions and MO dye was highly pH dependent and varied under different experimental conditions. Cr(vi) ion and MO dye uptake by the CS was confirmed by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and energy dispersive spectrometry analysis. Additionally, XPS analysis of the Cr(vi)-loaded CS revealed that Cr(vi) was reduced to the less toxic Cr(iii). The CS was shown not only to be highly amenable to regeneration, but also to be able to effectively remove MO dye and Cr(vi) ions from a binary mixture.

Sericin, a protein waste product of the silk industry, was crosslinked with chitosan, and a chitosan–sericin conjugate (CS) was prepared, characterized and used to remove hexavalent chromium (Cr(vi)) ions and methyl orange dye from aqueous solutions.