Imaging in secondary tumors of the ovary

Abdominal Radiology - Metastatic involvement of the ovaries is not rare. The most common tumor types metastasizing to the ovaries, from non-gynecological organs, are breast, colorectal, gastric,...     

Prevalence,Risk Factors,and Transmission Dynamics of Extended-Spectrum-β-Lactamase-Producing Enterobacteriaceae: a National Survey of Cattle Farms in Israel in 2013

Our objectives were to study the prevalence, risk factors for carriage, and transmission dynamics of extended-spectrum-β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBLPE) in a national survey of cattle. This was a point prevalence study conducted from July to October 2013 in Israel. Stool samples were collected from 1,226 cows in 123 sections on 40 farms of all production types. ESBLPE were identified in 291 samples (23.7%): 287 contained Escherichia coli and 4 contained Klebsiella pneumoniae. The number of ESBLPE-positive cows was the highest in quarantine stations and on fattening farms and was the lowest on pasture farms (P = 0.03). The number of ESBLPE-positive cows was the lowest in sections containing adult cows (age, >25 months) and highest in sections containing calves (age, <4 months) (P < 0.001). Infrastructure variables that were significant risk factors for ESBLPE carriage included crowding, a lack of manure cleaning, and a lack of a cooling (P < 0.001 for each), all of which were more common in sections containing calves. Antimicrobial prophylaxis was given almost exclusively to calves and was associated with a high number of ESBLPE carriers (P < 0.001). The 287 E. coli isolates were typed into 106 repetitive extragenic palindromic (REP)-PCR types and mostly harbored bla_CTX-M-1 or bla_CTX-M-9 group genes. The isolates on the six farms with ≥15 isolates of ESBLPE were of 4 to 7 different REP-PCR types, with one dominant type being harbored by about half of the isolates. Fourteen types were identified on more than one farm, with only six of the farms being adjacent to each other. The prevalence of ESBLPE carriage is high in calves in cowsheds where the use of antimicrobial prophylaxis is common. ESBLPE disseminate within cowsheds mainly by clonal spread, with limited intercowshed transmission occurring.     

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis due to ceftriaxone: Report of a pediatric case with recurrence after positive patch test

Acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP) is seen uncommonly in children and sometimes shows atypical clinical features in this population. Patch testing can be used effectively in children for the confirmation of the culprit drug in cases of multiple drug use. Here, we report a rare, pediatric case of ceftriaxone‐induced AGEP confirmed by patch testing with subsequent recurrence of the skin eruption.     

The combined relations of gender,enculturation, and depressive symptoms with health risk behaviors in Mexican-Americans: a moderated mediation analysis

ABSTRACT

Objectives: The present study investigated the relationships of enculturation and depressive symptoms with health risk behavior engagement in Mexican-American college students and examined how these relationships differed by gender. Previous research has noted consistent gender differences in health risk behavior (e.g. alcohol use, substance use, and risky sexual behavior) among Latina/os, and emphasized the role of U.S. acculturation in this difference. Research examining the role of heritage cultural retention (i.e. enculturation), and including the added influence of mental health variables, such as depressive symptoms, is currently lacking. This study sought to address this gap.

Design: A large sample (N?=?677) of Mexican-American college students from four universities (located in New York, California, Florida, and Texas) completed an online questionnaire assessing health risk behaviors and corresponding variables.

Results: We found that males who endorsed more behavioral enculturation and depressive symptoms were more likely to engage in health risk behavior than all others in the sample. Contrary to previous literature, no relationship was found between behavioral enculturation and health risk behavior in females.

Conclusion: The current study found behavioral enculturation to be associated with depressive symptoms, and in turn with health risk behaviors among the males in our sample. Additional research will be needed to identify the mechanism underlying the relationship between enculturation and depressive symptoms as well as between depressive symptoms and risky behavior.     

Silicone-based simulation models for peripheral nerve microsurgery

Background

There is a need for a peripheral nerve model on which surgeons-in-training can simulate the repair of nerve injuries at their own pace. Although practicing on animal models/cadavers is considered the “gold standard” of microsurgical training, the proposed model aims to provide a platform for improving the technical skills of surgical trainees prior to their practice on cadaver/animal models. In addition, this model has the potential to serve as a standardized test medium for assessing the skill sets of surgeons.

Effects of sex and age on strength-duration properties.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the possible effects of sex and age on strength-duration time constant (SDTC). METHODS: The SDTC of 126 healthy volunteers was measured following stimulation of right median nerve at the wrist. Variations in values were evaluated according to sex and age. RESULTS: The SDTC was 438.6+/-114.5 micros in women and 396.2+/-90.3 in men (P=.023). In men, as age increased, so did SDTC. However, this was not true in women. Comparing the values of women and men, aged below 40, demonstrated a difference in excitability, confined to younger patients. CONCLUSIONS: As SDTC depends on the biophysical properties of the axonal membrane and can provide some information about Na(+) channel function, these data raise the possibility of a difference in Na(+) channel function between men and women and a difference in the conductance with age. SIGNIFICANCE: The age- and sex-related differences shown in this study suggest a possible biochemical or hormonal influence on axonal excitability.     

Erythropoietin stimulates wound healing and angiogenesis in mice.

Erythropoietin exerts hematopoietic effects by stimulating proliferation of early erythroid precursors. Nonhematopoietic effects of erythropoietin have also been shown. It may act as a new angiogenic factor in wound healing. This study aimed to investigate the effect of systemic administration of recombinant human erythropoietin on wound healing in mice. Dorsal incisional wounds were performed in mice, which were then divided into two groups; a group treated for 7 days with recombinant human erythropoietin, and a control group. Sacrificing animals on day 7, the wound tissues were collected for analysis of wound breaking strength, malondialdehyde, a marker of lipid peroxidation, hydroxyproline, an index of reparative collagen deposition, reduced glutathione levels, and for histological evaluation. The immunohistochemical determination of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) which is believed to be the most prevalent angiogenic factor throughout the skin repair process, was also studied. The treatment significantly increased wound breaking strength by decreasing malondialdehyde and increasing hydroxyproline levels on day 7 after wounding. No statistically meaningful change was observed in reduced glutathione content. VEGF was immunostained significantly more on wound tissue of treated animals compared to the control group. Recombinant human erythropoietin treatment may be effective in wound healing due to inhibition of lipid peroxidation, deposition of collagen, and VEGF expression in wound area.     

A prospective, randomized controlled study of computer-assisted learning in parasitology.

PURPOSE: To compare, using a prospective, randomized controlled study, three methods of teaching a medical school parasitology course: computer-based instruction, traditional lecture-based instruction, and a combination of computer-based and lecture-based instruction. METHOD: A single class of the University of Utah School of Medicine was randomized into three study groups for the second-year parasitology course. The computer group (n = 29) used a locally developed interactive parasitology computer program; the lecture group (n = 32) had traditional lectures, and the combined group (n = 33) used both the computer program and lectures. Students' knowledge was assessed using a pretest, a final examination, and a posttest administered four months after the course. Students also used logs to track the amounts of time they spent studying. Their impressions and course evaluations were collected using a standardized course-evaluation form. RESULTS: The groups' scores on the pretest, final examination, and posttest were not statistically significantly different. Students in the computer group averaged 26.8 hours of studying over the two-week course compared with 32.1 hours in the lecture group and 32.7 hours in the combined group. The difference in study times between the computer and combined groups yielded a significant p value of 0.036. Students were generally positive about the course and the computer program. CONCLUSION: Students can learn parasitology from computer-based instruction as effectively as from traditional lecture-based instruction, and they can do so in less time.