Changes in retention force with electroplated copings on conical crowns: a comparison of gold and zirconia primary crowns

The aim of this study was to examine the wear behavior of conical crowns with electroplated gold copings that are used to connect implants and teeth to a removable denture. Gold alloy and zirconium dioxide ceramic crowns were compared.

Comparison of genomic and proteomic data in recurrent airway obstruction affected horses using Ingenuity Pathway Analysis(R)

BACKGROUND: Recurrent airway obstruction (RAO) is a severe chronic respiratory disease affecting horses worldwide, though mostly in the Northern hemisphere. Environmental as well as genetic factors strongly influence the course and prognosis of the disease. Research has been focused on characterization of immunologic factors contributing to inflammatory responses, on genetic linkage analysis, and, more recently, on proteomic analysis of airway secretions from affected horses. The goal of this study was to investigate the interactions between eight candidate genes previously identified in a genetic linkage study and proteins expressed in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) collected from healthy and RAO-affected horses. The analysis was carried out with Ingenuity Pathway Analysis(R) bioinformatics software. RESULTS: The gene with the greatest number of indirect interactions with the set of proteins identified is Interleukin 4 Receptor (IL-4R), whose protein has also been detected in BALF. Interleukin 21 receptor and chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 24 also showed a large number of interactions with the group of detected proteins. Protein products of other genes like that of SOCS5, revealed direct interactions with the IL-4R protein. The interacting proteins NOD2, RPS6KA5 and FOXP3 found in several pathways are reported regulators of the NFkappaB pathway. CONCLUSIONS: The pathways generated with IL-4R highlight possible important intracellular signaling cascades implicating, for instance, NFkappaB. Furthermore, the proposed interaction between SOCS5 and IL-4R could explain how different genes can lead to identical clinical RAO phenotypes, as observed in two Swiss Warmblood half sibling families because these proteins interact upstream of an important cascade where they may act as a functional unit.

Comparison of genotypes and antibiotic resistance of Campylobacter jejuni isolated from humans and slaughtered chickens in Switzerland

AIMS: To get an overview of genotypes and antibiotic resistances in Swiss Campylobacter jejuni implicated in human gastroenteritis and to examine the association with isolates from chickens. METHODS AND RESULTS: Multilocus sequence typing (MLST) and flaB typing were applied to 136 human clinical isolates. Phenotypic resistance to 12 antimicrobials and genotypic resistance to macrolides and quinolones were determined. MLST resulted in 35 known and six new sequence types (ST). The flaB analysis revealed 35 different types, which - in combination with MLST - increased the resolution of the typing approach. Resistance to quinolones, tetracycline and ampicillin was found in 37.5, 33.1 and 8.1% of the isolates, respectively, whereas macrolide resistance was found only once. Genotypic and phenotypic resistance correlated in all cases. A comparison to Camp. jejuni isolated from slaughtered chickens was performed. While 86% of the quinolone-sensitive human isolates showed overlapping MLST-flaB types with those of chicken origin, resistant strains showed only 39% of matching types. CONCLUSION: Mainly quinolone-sensitive Camp. jejuni strains implicated in human campylobacteriosis showed matching genotypes with isolates originating from chickens. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: A large proportion of human cases in Switzerland are likely to originate from domestic chickens, confirming that prevention measures in the poultry production are important.

A comparison of measured and estimated glomerular filtration rate in successfully treated HIV-patients with preserved renal function

Monitoring of renal function becomes increasingly important in the aging population of HIV-1 infected patients. We compared Cockroft & Gault (C&G), Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI), Modification of Diet in Renal Disease (MDRD), Cystatin C- and 24 h urine-based estimated GFR (eGFR) with the gold standard, measured GFR (mGFR) using [125I]-iothalamate.

Effects of flame made zinc oxide particles in human lung cells - a comparison of aerosol and suspension exposures

Background Predominantly, studies of nanoparticle (NPs) toxicology in vitro are based upon the exposure of submerged cell cultures to particle suspensions. Such an approach however, does not reflect particle inhalation. As a more realistic simulation of such a scenario, efforts were made towards direct delivery of aerosols to air-liquid-interface cultivated cell cultures by the use of aerosol exposure systems. This study aims to provide a direct comparison of the effects of zinc oxide (ZnO) NPs when delivered as either an aerosol, or in suspension to a triple cell co-culture model of the epithelial airway barrier. To ensure dose–equivalence, ZnO-deposition was determined in each exposure scenario by atomic absorption spectroscopy. Biological endpoints being investigated after 4 or 24h incubation include cytotoxicity, total reduced glutathione, induction of antioxidative genes such as heme-oxygenase 1 (HO–1) as well as the release of the (pro)-inflammatory cytokine TNFα. Results Off-gases released as by-product of flame ZnO synthesis caused a significant decrease of total reduced GSH and induced further the release of the cytokine TNFα, demonstrating the influence of the gas phase on aerosol toxicology. No direct effects could be attributed to ZnO particles. By performing suspension exposure to avoid the factor “flame-gases”, particle specific effects become apparent. Other parameters such as LDH and HO–1 were not influenced by gaseous compounds: Following aerosol exposure, LDH levels appeared elevated at both timepoints and the HO–1 transcript correlated positively with deposited ZnO-dose. Under submerged conditions, the HO–1 induction scheme deviated for 4 and 24h and increased extracellular LDH was found following 24h exposure. Conclusion In the current study, aerosol and suspension-exposure has been compared by exposing cell cultures to equivalent amounts of ZnO. Both exposure strategies differ fundamentally in their dose–response pattern. Additional differences can be found for the factor time: In the aerosol scenario, parameters tend to their maximum already after 4h of exposure, whereas under submerged conditions, effects appear most pronounced mainly after 24h. Aerosol exposure provides information about the synergistic interplay of gaseous and particulate phase of an aerosol in the context of inhalation toxicology. Exposure to suspensions represents a valuable complementary method and allows investigations on particle-associated toxicity by excluding all gas–derived effects.

A randomized comparison of microtip and air-charged catheter for the measurement of maximum urethral closure pressure

Measurements of maximum urethral closure pressure (MUCP) are a part of urodynamic investigations preceding an incontinence surgery and a part of urethral function tests.

Experimental Comparison of Bluetooth and WiFi Signal Propagation for Indoor Localisation

Systems for indoor positioning using radio technologies are largely studied due to their convenience and the market opportunities they offer. The positioning algorithms typically derive geographic coordinates from observed radio signals and hence good understanding of the indoor radio channel is required. In this paper we investigate several factors that affect signal propagation indoors for both Bluetooth and WiFi. Our goal is to investigate which factors can be disregarded and which should be considered in the development of a positioning algorithm. Our results show that technical factors such as device characteristics have smaller impact on the signal than multipath propagation. Moreover, we show that propagation conditions differ in each direction. We also noticed that WiFi and Bluetooth, despite operating in the same radio band, do not at all times exhibit the same behaviour.

Kinetic assessment of persistent halogenated xenobiotics in cell culture models: comparison of mono- and poly-halogenated compounds

We evaluated the suitability of single and multiple cell type cultures as model systems to characterise cellular kinetics of highly lipophilic compounds with potential ecotoxicological impact. Confluent mono-layers of human skin fibroblasts, rat astrocytoma C6 cells, non-differentiated and differentiated mouse 3T3 cells were kept in culture medium supplemented with 10% foetal calf serum. For competitive uptake experiments up to four different cell types, grown on glass sectors, were exposed for 3h to (14)C-labelled model compounds, dissolved either in organic solvents or incorporated into unilamellar lecithin liposomes. Bromo-, or chloro-benzenes, decabromodiphenylether (DBP), and dichlorodiphenyl ethylene (DDE) were tested in rather high concentration of 20 microM. Cellular toxicity was low. Compound levels were related to protein, DNA, and triglyceride contents. Cellular uptake was fast and dependent on physico-chemical properties of the compounds (lipophilicity, molecular size), formulation, and cell type. Mono-halogenated benzenes showed low and similar uptake levels (=low accumulation compounds). DBP and DDE showed much higher cellular accumulations (=high accumulation compounds) except for DBP in 3T3 cells. Uptake from liposomal formulations was mostly higher than if compounds were dissolved in organic solvents. The extent of uptake correlated with the cellular content of triglycerides, except for DBP. Uptake competition between different cell types was studied in a sectorial multi-cell culture model. For low accumulation compounds negligible differences were found among C6 cells and fibroblasts. Uptake of DDE was slightly and that of DBP highly increased in fibroblasts. Well-defined cell culture systems, especially the sectorial model, are appropriate to screen for bioaccumulation and cytotoxicity of (unknown) chemical entities in vitro.

Comparison of spatial and temporal pattern for fMRI obtained with BOLD and arterial spin labeling

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) is presently either performed using blood oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) contrast or using cerebral blood flow (CBF), measured with arterial spin labeling (ASL) technique. The present fMRI study aimed to provide practical hints to favour one method over the other. It involved three different acquisition methods during visual checkerboard stimulation on nine healthy subjects: 1) CBF contrast obtained from ASL, 2) BOLD contrast extracted from ASL and 3) BOLD contrast from Echo planar imaging. Previous findings were replicated; i) no differences between the three measurements were found in the location of the activated region; ii) differences were found in the temporal characteristics of the signals and iii) BOLD has significantly higher sensitivity than ASL perfusion. ASL fMRI was favoured when the investigation demands for perfusion and task related signal changes. BOLD fMRI is more suitable in conjunction with fast event related design.

Physicians' philosophy of care: a comparison of complementary and conventional medicine

BACKGROUND: This project is part of an evaluation of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) aimed at providing a scientific basis for the Swiss Government to include 5 CAM methods in basic health coverage: anthroposophic medicine, homeopathy, neural therapy, phytotherapy and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). OBJECTIVES: The objective was to explore the philosophy of care (convictions and values, priorities in medical activity, motivation for CAM, criteria for the practice of CAM, limits of the used methods) of conventional and CAM general practitioners (GPs) and to determine differences between both groups. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This study was a cross-sectional survey of a representative sample of 623 GPs who provide complementary or conventional primary care. A mailed questionnaire with open-ended questions focusing on the philosophy of care was used for data collection. An appropriate methodology using a combination of quantitative and qualitative approaches was developed. RESULTS: Significant differences between both groups include philosophy of care (holistic versus positivistic approaches), motivation for CAM (intrinsic versus extrinsic) and priorities in medical activity. Both groups seem to be aware of limitations of the therapeutic methods used. The study reveals that conventional physicians are also using complementary medicine. DISCUSSION: Our study provides a wealth of data documenting several aspects of physicians' philosophy of care as well as differences and similarities between conventional and complementary care. Implications of the study with regard to quality of care as well as ethical and health policy issues should be investigated further.

Virtopsy - the concept of a centralized database in forensic medicine for analysis and comparison of radiological and autopsy data

Recent developments in clinical radiology have resulted in additional developments in the field of forensic radiology. After implementation of cross-sectional radiology and optical surface documentation in forensic medicine, difficulties in the validation and analysis of the acquired data was experienced. To address this problem and for the comparison of autopsy and radiological data a centralized database with internet technology for forensic cases was created. The main goals of the database are (1) creation of a digital and standardized documentation tool for forensic-radiological and pathological findings; (2) establishing a basis for validation of forensic cross-sectional radiology as a non-invasive examination method in forensic medicine that means comparing and evaluating the radiological and autopsy data and analyzing the accuracy of such data; and (3) providing a conduit for continuing research and education in forensic medicine. Considering the infrequent availability of CT or MRI for forensic institutions and the heterogeneous nature of case material in forensic medicine an evaluation of benefits and limitations of cross-sectional imaging concerning certain forensic features by a single institution may be of limited value. A centralized database permitting international forensic and cross disciplinary collaborations may provide important support for forensic-radiological casework and research.