Salmonellosis in Indonesia: phage type distribution of Salmonella typhi.

The distribution of phage types was studied among 577 strains of Salmonella typhi from Indonesia. Chemotype, colicinogeny, and tetrathionate reductase activity were also studied for most of these strains. The current phage type formula for Java was determined to be: A, D2, D6, E1a, E2, M1, and 46, but two other large groups of strains were also found, I + IV and degraded Vi+ strains. Significant differences in S. typhi strain distributions were noted between two localities on Java with respect to phage type and tetrathionate reductase activity. Comparisons were made with past phage typing studies in Jakarta as well as with more recent studies in other parts of south-east Asia. Phage types A, D1, D2, and E1 persisted at a rather steady level in Jakarta for 28 years. Evidence was found for epidemiological links to European and Asian areas. Antibiotic resistance among these Indonesian S. typhi strains was rare.     

Somatic engagement alters subsequent neurobehavioral correlates of affective mentalizing

Socio‐emotional encounters involve a resonance of others'' affective states, known as affect sharing (AS); and attribution of mental states to others, known as theory‐of‐mind (ToM). Empathy necessitates the integration of both processes, yet their interaction during emotional episodes and subsequent generation of inferences on others'' affective states has rarely been tested. To address this, we developed a novel experimental design, wherein we manipulated AS by presenting nonverbal emotionally negative movies twice—each time accompanied by one of two soundtracks that accentuated either somatic cues or externally generated sounds. Movies were followed by questions addressing affective‐ToM (emotional inferences), cognitive‐ToM (inferences on beliefs and knowledge), and non‐ToM aspects. Results revealed a neural differentiation between AS, affective‐ToM, and cognitive‐ToM. AS movies activated regions that have been implicated in emotional (e.g., amygdala) and somatosensory processing, and synchronized brain activity between participants in the latter. Affective‐ToM activated the middle insula, limbic regions, and both ventral and dorsal portions of the medial prefrontal cortex (ventral medial prefrontal cortex [VMPFC] and dorsal medial prefrontal cortex [DMPFC], respectively), whereas cognitive‐ToM activated posteromedial and lateral–prefrontal and temporal cortices. Critically, AS movies specifically altered neural activation in AS and ToM‐related regions during subsequent affective‐ToM inferences, most notably in the DMPFC. Moreover, DMPFC–VMPFC connectivity correlated with affective‐ToM accuracy, when such questions followed AS movies. Our results associate empathic processes with designated neural activations and shed light on how neuro‐behavioral indices of affective ToM are shaped by preceding somatic engagement.     

Development of a novel bioactive glass for air-abrasion to selectively remove orthodontic adhesives

Clinical Oral Investigations - To develop a novel, bioactive glass for removing residual orthodontic adhesive via air-abrasion, following bracket debonding, and to evaluate its effectiveness...     

Surface modification of CoCr alloys by electrochemical reduction of diazonium salts

Tailoring the surface chemistry of CoCr alloys is of tremendous interest in many biomedical applications. In this work, we show that CoCr can be modified by diazonium electrografting provided the surface is not homogeneously covered with an oxide layer. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) show the electrografting of a poly(aminophenylene) (PAP) layer on CoCr when treated at a reductive potential (CoCr_{−0.5 V}), whereas no PAP film was formed on CoCr_OCP and CoCr_{1 V}, treated at open circuit and anodic potentials respectively. Based on XPS results, we attributed the electrografting to the formation of carbide bonds between PAP and the inhomogeneous thin oxide layer of CoCr_{−0.5 V}. We then show an example of application of PAP coatings on CoCr and prove that the presence of a PAP coating on CoCr_{−0.5 V} results in a 5-fold increase of the adherence of poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) to PAP-coated CoCr compared to uncoated samples; this is of prime significance to improving the long-term stability of dental prostheses. These findings support the importance of reducing the oxide layer for effective functionalization of metal oxides with aryl diazonium salts and suggest a promising surface modification approach for biomedical applications.

Tailoring the surface chemistry of CoCr alloys is of tremendous interest in many biomedical applications.     

Effect of Native Oxide Film on Commercial Magnesium Alloys Substrates and Carbonate Conversion Coating Growth and Corrosion Resistance

Possible relations between the native oxide film formed spontaneously on the AZ31 and AZ61 magnesium alloy substrates with different surface finish, the chemistry of the outer surface of the conversion coatings that grows after their subsequent immersion on saturated aqueous NaHCO₃ solution treatment and the enhancement of corrosion resistance have been studied. The significant increase in the amount of aluminum and carbonate compounds on the surface of the conversion coating formed on the AZ61 substrate in polished condition seems to improve the corrosion resistance in low chloride ion concentration solutions. In contrast, the conversion coatings formed on the AZ31 substrates in polished condition has little effect on their protective properties compared to the respective as-received surface.     

用于CT配置数量预测的滞后计量模型研究

目的：探讨并筛选与CT配置数量相关的社会经济，地理、人口、卫生等方面的统计指标，并在此基础上建立各省市区CT配置总量的预测模型，为卫生行政主管部门制定设置配置规划提供决策依据。方法：使用多元逐步回归的方法，筛选与区域内CT数量相关的因素建立数学模型。结果：共筛选了医生数，是否为西部地区，人口密度，是否为中部地区，县级行政区划数，职工人均工资和城镇社区服务设施数等7个指标进入模型。结论：本模型的建立无论在理论方面还是在实践方面，都具有重大意义，为卫生行政主管部门的设备配置决策提供了新的思路与技术方法。     

Patient satisfaction with nursing care in Alexandria, Egypt

The study assessed the satisfaction of medical and surgical patients in a university hospital in Egypt using the La Monica/Oberst Patient Satisfaction Scale. In spite of the nursing shortage in that hospital, the results indicated that patient satisfaction was high. The implications for nursing care are discussed in terms of the validity of the scale and the objectivity of clients when responding to the questionnaire.