The effect of polymerization procedure on Vickers hardness of dual-curing resin cements

To investigate the surface hardness (Vickers hardness, HVN) of one light-curing flowable resin composite and five dual-curing resin cements after different polymerization procedures.

"Drug mules" as a radiological challenge: Sensitivity and specificity in identifying internal cocaine in body packers, body pushers and body stuffers by computed tomography, plain radiography and Lodox

PURPOSE: The purpose of our study was to retrospectively evaluate the specificity, sensitivity and accuracy of computed tomography (CT), digital radiography (DR) and low-dose linear slit digital radiography (LSDR, Lodox(®)) in the detection of internal cocaine containers. METHODS: Institutional review board approval was obtained. The study collectively consisted of 83 patients (76 males, 7 females, 16-45 years) suspected of having incorporated cocaine drug containers. All underwent radiological imaging; a total of 135 exams were performed: nCT=35, nDR=70, nLSDR=30. An overall calculation of all "drug mules" and a specific evaluation of body packers, pushers and stuffers were performed. The gold standard was stool examination in a dedicated holding cell equipped with a drug toilet. RESULTS: There were 54 drug mules identified in this study. CT of all drug carriers showed the highest diagnostic accuracy 97.1%, sensitivity 100% and specificity 94.1%. DR in all cases was 71.4% accurate, 58.3% sensitive and 85.3% specific. LSDR of all patients with internal cocaine was 60% accurate, 57.9% sensitive and 63.4% specific. CONCLUSIONS: CT was the most accurate test studied. Therefore, the detection of internal cocaine drug packs should be performed by CT, rather than by conventional X-ray, in order to apply the most sensitive exam in the medico-legal investigation of suspected drug carriers. Nevertheless, the higher radiation applied by CT than by DR or LSDR needs to be considered. Future studies should include evaluation of low dose CT protocols in order to address germane issues and to reduce dosage.

Concomitant vascular GRP-receptor and VEGF-receptor expression in human tumors: molecular basis for dual targeting of tumoral vasculature

Gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) and GRP receptors (GRPR) play a role in tumor angiogenesis. Recently, GRPR were found to be frequently expressed in the vasculature of a large variety of human cancers. Here, we characterize these GRPR by comparing the vascular GRPR expression and localization in a selection of human cancers with that of an established biological marker of neoangiogenesis, the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) receptor. In vitro quantitative receptor autoradiography was performed in parallel for GRPR and VEGF receptors (VEGFR) in 32 human tumors of various origins, using ¹²⁵I-Tyr-bombesin and ¹²⁵I-VEGF₁₆₅ as radioligands, respectively. Moreover, VEGFR-2 was evaluated immunohistochemically. All tumors expressed GRPR and VEGFR in their vascular system. VEGFR were expressed in the endothelium in the majority of the vessels. GRPR were expressed in a subpopulation of vessels, preferably in their muscular coat. The vessels expressing GRPR were all VEGFR-positive whereas the VEGFR-expressing vessels were not all GRPR-positive. GRPR expressing vessels were found immunohistochemically to co-express VEGFR-2. Remarkably, the density of vascular GRPR was much higher than that of VEGFR. The concomitant expression of GRPR with VEGFR appears to be a frequent phenomenon in many human cancers. The GRPR, localized and expressed in extremely high density in a subgroup of vessels, may function as target for antiangiogenic tumor therapy or angiodestructive targeted radiotherapy with radiolabeled bombesin analogs alone, or preferably together with VEGFR targeted therapy.

High specificity of line-immunoassay based algorithms for recent HIV-1 infection independent of viral subtype and stage of disease

Background Serologic testing algorithms for recent HIV seroconversion (STARHS) provide important information for HIV surveillance. We have shown that a patient's antibody reaction in a confirmatory line immunoassay (INNO-LIATM HIV I/II Score, Innogenetics) provides information on the duration of infection. Here, we sought to further investigate the diagnostic specificity of various Inno-Lia algorithms and to identify factors affecting it. Methods Plasma samples of 714 selected patients of the Swiss HIV Cohort Study infected for longer than 12 months and representing all viral clades and stages of chronic HIV-1 infection were tested blindly by Inno-Lia and classified as either incident (up to 12 m) or older infection by 24 different algorithms. Of the total, 524 patients received HAART, 308 had HIV-1 RNA below 50 copies/mL, and 620 were infected by a HIV-1 non-B clade. Using logistic regression analysis we evaluated factors that might affect the specificity of these algorithms. Results HIV-1 RNA <50 copies/mL was associated with significantly lower reactivity to all five HIV-1 antigens of the Inno-Lia and impaired specificity of most algorithms. Among 412 patients either untreated or with HIV-1 RNA ≥50 copies/mL despite HAART, the median specificity of the algorithms was 96.5% (range 92.0-100%). The only factor that significantly promoted false-incident results in this group was age, with false-incident results increasing by a few percent per additional year. HIV-1 clade, HIV-1 RNA, CD4 percentage, sex, disease stage, and testing modalities exhibited no significance. Results were similar among 190 untreated patients. Conclusions The specificity of most Inno-Lia algorithms was high and not affected by HIV-1 variability, advanced disease and other factors promoting false-recent results in other STARHS. Specificity should be good in any group of untreated HIV-1 patients.

Femoroacetabular cam-type impingement: diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of radiographic views compared to radial MRI

To retrospectively assess the diagnostic sensitivity of 45° Dunn view and cross-table lateral radiographs for the assessment of cam deformity by comparison with radial MRI.

Dual-energy CT-cholangiography in potential donors for living-related liver transplantation: Improved biliary visualization by intravenous morphine co-medication

PURPOSE: To prospectively evaluate whether intravenous morphine co-medication improves bile duct visualization of dual-energy CT-cholangiography. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty potential donors for living-related liver transplantation underwent CT-cholangiography with infusion of a hepatobiliary contrast agent over 40min. Twenty minutes after the beginning of the contrast agent infusion, either normal saline (n=20 patients; control group [CG]) or morphine sulfate (n=20 patients; morphine group [MG]) was injected. Forty-five minutes after initiation of the contrast agent, a dual-energy CT acquisition of the liver was performed. Applying dual-energy post-processing, pure iodine images were generated. Primary study goals were determination of bile duct diameters and visualization scores (on a scale of 0 to 3: 0-not visualized; 3-excellent visualization). RESULTS: Bile duct visualization scores for second-order and third-order branch ducts were significantly higher in the MG compared to the CG (2.9±0.1 versus 2.6±0.2 [P<0.001] and 2.7±0.3 versus 2.1±0.6 [P<0.01], respectively). Bile duct diameters for the common duct and main ducts were significantly higher in the MG compared to the CG (5.9±1.3mm versus 4.9±1.3mm [P<0.05] and 3.7±1.3mm versus 2.6±0.5mm [P<0.01], respectively). CONCLUSION: Intravenous morphine co-medication significantly improved biliary visualization on dual-energy CT-cholangiography in potential donors for living-related liver transplantation.

Pramipexole versus dual release levodopa in restless legs syndrome: a double blind, randomised, cross-over trial

To compare efficacy and safety of the dopamine agonist pramipexole (PPX) versus reference treatment with dual release levodopa/benserazide (L/B) in de novo patients with restless legs syndrome (RLS).

Diagnostic value of animal-side antibody assays for rapid detection of Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium microti infection in South American camelids

Tuberculosis (TB) in South American camelids (SAC) is caused by Mycobacterium bovis or Mycobacterium microti. Two serological methods, rapid testing (RT) and the dual-path platform (DPP) assay, were evaluated using naturally infected SAC. The study population included 156 alpacas and 175 llamas in Great Britain, Switzerland, and the United States. TB due to M. bovis (n = 44) or M. microti (n = 8) in 35 alpacas and 17 llamas was diagnosed by gross pathology examination and culture. Control animals were from herds with no TB history. The RT and the DPP assay showed sensitivities of 71% and 74%, respectively, for alpacas, while the sensitivity for llamas was 77% for both assays. The specificity of the DPP assay (98%) was higher than that of RT (94%) for llamas; the specificities of the two assays were identical (98%) for alpacas. When the two antibody tests were combined, the parallel-testing interpretation (applied when either assay produced a positive result) enhanced the sensitivities of antibody detection to 89% for alpacas and 88% for llamas but at the cost of lower specificities (97% and 93%, respectively), whereas the serial-testing interpretation (applied when both assays produced a positive result) maximized the specificity to 100% for both SAC species, although the sensitivities were 57% for alpacas and 65% for llamas. Over 95% of the animals with evidence of TB failed to produce skin test reactions, thus confirming concerns about the validity of this method for testing SAC. The findings suggest that serological assays may offer a more accurate and practical alternative for antemortem detection of camelid TB.

The role of RTX toxins in host specificity of animal pathogenic Pasteurellaceae

RTX toxins are bacterial pore-forming toxins that are particularly abundant among pathogenic species of Pasteurellaceae, in which they play a major role in virulence. RTX toxins of several primary pathogens of the family of Pasteurellaceae are directly involved in causing necrotic lesions in the target organs. Many RTX toxins are known as haemolysins because they lyse erythrocytes in vitro, an effect that is non-specific, but which serves as a useful marker in bacteriological identification and as an easily measurable signal in vitro in experimental studies. More recent studies have shown that the specific targets of most RTX toxins are leukocytes, with RTX toxins binding to the corresponding beta-subunit (CD18) of beta2 integrins and then exerting cytotoxic activity. After uptake by the target cell, at sub-lytic concentrations, some RTX toxins are transported to mitochondria and induce apoptosis. For several RTX toxins the binding to CD18 has been shown to be host specific and this seems to be the basis for the host range specificity of these RTX toxins. Observations on two very closely related species of the Pasteurellaceae family, Actinobacillus suis, a porcine pathogen particularly affecting suckling pigs, and Actinobacillus equuli subsp. haemolytica, which causes pyosepticaemia in new-born foals (sleepy foal disease), have revealed that they express different RTX toxins, named ApxI/II and Aqx, respectively. These RTX toxins are specifically cytotoxic for porcine and equine leukocytes, respectively. Furthermore, the ApxI and Aqx toxins of these species, when expressed in an isogenetic background in Escherichia coli, are specifically cytotoxic for leukocytes of their respective hosts. These data indicate the determinative role of RTX toxins in host specificity of pathogenic species of Pasteurellaceae.

Dual origins of dairy cattle farming - evidence from a comprehensive survey of European Y-chromosomal variation

BACKGROUND: Diversity patterns of livestock species are informative to the history of agriculture and indicate uniqueness of breeds as relevant for conservation. So far, most studies on cattle have focused on mitochondrial and autosomal DNA variation. Previous studies of Y-chromosomal variation, with limited breed panels, identified two Bos taurus (taurine) haplogroups (Y1 and Y2; both composed of several haplotypes) and one Bos indicus (indicine/zebu) haplogroup (Y3), as well as a strong phylogeographic structuring of paternal lineages. METHODOLOGY AND PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Haplogroup data were collected for 2087 animals from 138 breeds. For 111 breeds, these were resolved further by genotyping microsatellites INRA189 (10 alleles) and BM861 (2 alleles). European cattle carry exclusively taurine haplotypes, with the zebu Y-chromosomes having appreciable frequencies in Southwest Asian populations. Y1 is predominant in northern and north-western Europe, but is also observed in several Iberian breeds, as well as in Southwest Asia. A single Y1 haplotype is predominant in north-central Europe and a single Y2 haplotype in central Europe. In contrast, we found both Y1 and Y2 haplotypes in Britain, the Nordic region and Russia, with the highest Y-chromosomal diversity seen in the Iberian Peninsula. CONCLUSIONS: We propose that the homogeneous Y1 and Y2 regions reflect founder effects associated with the development and expansion of two groups of dairy cattle, the pied or red breeds from the North Sea and Baltic coasts and the spotted, yellow or brown breeds from Switzerland, respectively. The present Y1-Y2 contrast in central Europe coincides with historic, linguistic, religious and cultural boundaries.

Liver fat quantification by dual-echo MR imaging outperforms traditional histopathological analysis

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of dual-echo (DE) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) with and without fat and water separation for the quantification of liver fat content (LFC) in vitro and in patients undergoing liver surgery, with comparison to histopathologic analysis.

Assessment of the mineral density and mineral content of the equine third metacarpal and first phalanx bone by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry

In the first part of this methodological study eleven metacarpi of 9 skeletally normal horses were examined from 4 directions by dual energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The differences between the dorsopalmar-palmarodorsal and lateromedial-mediolateral (opposite sites) bone mineral density (BMD) values were found to be nonsignificant. In the second part of the study the precision of the Norland XR-26 densitometer was tested by measuring 34 metacarpal bones and 34 proximal phalanges, each of them three times, from a single direction. The difference between the individual measurements of the first phalanges and of the metacarpal bones originating from the right or the left side of the same horse were not significant, nor did the age or breed have a significant effect on BMD or bone mineral content (BMC). However, both BMD and BMC are greater in the metacarpal bones than in the proximal phalanges and are higher in geldings than in mares or to stallions, while the BMD or BMC values of mares and stallions did not differ from each other significantly. These data point to the necessity of further BMD studies in a higher number of patients.