The contribution of risk factors to the effect of early otitis media with effusion on later language, reading, and spelling

A cohort of 946 children who were screened for otitis media with effusion (OME) from the ages of 2 to 4 were studied for language, reading, and spelling at 7 years of age. The effects of OME in combination with single risk factors and with increasing numbers of risk factors were investigated. An interaction with an additional risk factor was found only for gender and OME, with boys' spelling influenced negatively by a history of OME. OME in combination with preterm birth and low birthweight also appears to put children at risk for later langauage and educational problems. Although a negative linear relation between the number of risk factors and later functioning was found, it is suggested that OME, even when combined with a number of other risk factors, produces only minor effects on later language, reading, and spelling.     

Gallbladder and bile duct stones: percutaneous therapy with primary MTBE dissolution and mechanical methods

The authors describe percutaneous treatment of gallbladder or bile duct stones in 18 patients who were poor surgical candidates or in whom conventional therapy failed. Dissolution was performed in most cases with methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) because of its potent dissolution properties; other solvents used included monooctanoin or chelating solutions. Gallbladder stones were eliminated in 11 of 13 patients (six of seven with dissolution alone, four of four with dissolution and basket extraction, one with basket removal alone). In five patients with stones in the common bile duct (n = 3), cystic duct remnant (n = 1), and intrahepatic bile ducts (n = 1), stones were eliminated with dissolution alone in two and with dissolution plus basket extraction in one. In two patients percutaneous therapy failed due to complications (vagal hypotension with bile peritonitis and transient respiratory arrest) that occurred during catheter placement. Preliminary results suggest that MTBE is effective for dissolution of many gallbladder stones and some bile duct stones. Noncholesterol solvents and adjuvant mechanical maneuvers are valuable adjuncts to achieve complete stone elimination.     

Growth inhibition of oral streptococci in saliva by anionic proteins from two caries-free individuals.

Mixed saliva from two caries-free individuals possessed antimicrobial activity toward Streptococcus mutans and S. sanguis. This inhibitory activity was attributed to the presence of a group of four anionic proteins each of which strongly inhibited the growth of the oral streptococci in a saliva protein-based medium but not in a medium containing amino acids as a nitrogen source. These proteins, with isoelectric points of 4.70, 4.90, 4.98, and 5.05, respectively, neither reacted with antisera to immunoglobulin A, G, or M nor appeared to be functionally related to a number of salivary peroxidases, lactoferrin, or lysozyme. On this basis, they may represent a previously unreported group of growth-inhibitory antimicrobial factors occurring in the saliva of some individuals.     

Caseinolytic and glyoprotein hydrolase activity of Streptococcus mutans.

Proteolytic hydrolysis of casein and porcine or bovine glycoproteins by S mutans was demonstrated in the present study. Caseinolytic activity was found in both the soluble contents of the cells and the cellular debris after rupture of the cells. However, caseinolytic activity could not be demonstrated after growth in the culture fluid from any of the strains of S mutans tested. The soluble fractions of S mutans did not possess glycoprotein hydrolase activity toward porcine or bovine glycoprotein, but glycoprotein hydrolase activity was present in both the cell-debris preparation from cells and in the culture fluid after growth of the cultures. Based on these observations, S mutans may possess several different types of proteinase enzymes with differing specificities for protein substrates.     

Control of Tetranychus urticae Koch by extracts of three essential oils of chamomile,marjoram and Eucalyptus

Objective

To evaluate the acaricidal activity of extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus against Tetranychus urticae (T. urticae) Koch.

Methods

Extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus with different concentrations (0.5%, 1.0%, 2.0%, 3.0% and 4.0%) were used to control T. urticae Koch.

Results

The results showed that chamomile (Chamomilla recutita) represented the most potent efficient acaricidal agent against Tetranychus followed by marjoram (Marjorana hortensis) and Eucalyptus. The LC₅₀ values of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus for adults were 0.65, 1.84 and 2.18, respectively and for eggs 1.17, 6.26 and 7.33, respectively. Activities of enzymes including glutathione-S-transferase, esterase (α-esterase and β-esterase) and alkaline phosphatase in susceptible mites were determined and activities of enzymes involved in the resistance of acaricides were proved. Protease enzyme was significantly decreased at LC₅₀ of both chamomile and marjoram compared with positive control. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) proved that the major compositions of Chamomilla recutita are α-bisabolol oxide A (35.251%), and trans-β-farersene (7.758%), while the main components of Marjorana hortensis are terpinene-4-ol (23.860%), p-cymene (23.404%) and sabinene (10.904%).

Conclusions

It can be concluded that extracts of three essential oils of chamomile, marjoram and Eucalyptus possess acaricidal activity against T. urticae.     

胸腺肽α1对转移性黑色素瘤患者有效

胸腺肽α1（Tα1）为一种免疫调节多肽,可增强效应T细胞反应。此项大型随机试验主要评价了Tα1与达卡巴嗪（DTIC）和干扰素α（IFN—α）对于转移性黑色素瘤患者的疗效和安全性。     

Targets of antibodies against Plasmodium falciparum-infected erythrocytes in malaria immunity

Plasmodium falciparum is the major cause of malaria globally and is transmitted by mosquitoes. During parasitic development, P. falciparum-infected erythrocytes (P. falciparum-IEs) express multiple polymorphic proteins known as variant surface antigens (VSAs), including the P. falciparum erythrocyte membrane protein 1 (PfEMP1). VSA-specific antibodies are associated with protection from symptomatic and severe malaria. However, the importance of the different VSA targets of immunity to malaria remains unclear, which has impeded an understanding of malaria immunity and vaccine development. In this study, we developed assays using transgenic P. falciparum with modified PfEMP1 expression to quantify serum antibodies to VSAs among individuals exposed to malaria. We found that the majority of the human antibody response to the IE targets PfEMP1. Furthermore, our longitudinal studies showed that individuals with PfEMP1-specific antibodies had a significantly reduced risk of developing symptomatic malaria, whereas antibodies to other surface antigens were not associated with protective immunity. Using assays that measure antibody-mediated phagocytosis of IEs, an important mechanism in parasite clearance, we identified PfEMP1 as the major target of these functional antibodies. Taken together, these data demonstrate that PfEMP1 is a key target of humoral immunity. These findings advance our understanding of the targets and mediators of human immunity to malaria and have major implications for malaria vaccine development.     

Clinical “case series”: a concept analysis

Objectives

To analyze the concept of “case series” in the medical literature compared with case reports.

Methods

A PubMed search for articles published during 2009 which had “case series” in their title was performed. A total number of 621 articles were retrieved. 586 papers were included in the analysis and 35 were excluded (18 were commentary letters, 5 were not in English, and twelve could not be retrieved by our Library). The number of patients and category of these articles were analyzed.

Results

The median (range) of the number of cases of articles having “case series” in their title was 7 (1–6432) cases. 186/ 586 articles had less than 5 cases (31.7%, 95% CI (28.3–35.1%)). The median (range) of the number of cases of articles having “case report” as their publication type was 4 (1–178) cases. Out of the 219 articles categorized as case reports 114 (52.1%, 95% CI (45.6–58.6%)) had less than five cases.

Conclusions

The concept of “case series” is not well defined in the literature and does not reflect a specific research design. We suggest that a case series should have more than four patients while four paitents or less should be reported individually as case reports.