Why did I take the bowel cancer test? It's simple, I've got a lot more living to do

This poster highlights the bowel cancer screening programme is being introduced for all 60 to 71 year olds. If you are in this age group a kit will be sent by post so you can do the test at home. You are encouraged to look out for the kit as it could save your life.

Steps to deal with stress - A simple guide to stressing less and enjoying life more

The Steps to deal with stress booklet provides tips and practical advice on coping with stress in your life and covers recognizing stress, getting ready, coping better, learning from bad experiences and taking action now. Simple steps such as relaxation exercises and talking to someone can help you feel better and put you in a better frame of mind for dealing with your problems.

Evaluation of MRSA-Screen, a simple anti-PBP 2a slide latex agglutination kit, for rapid detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus.

The MRSA-Screen test (Denka Seiken Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan), consisting of a slide latex agglutination kit that detects PBP 2a with a monoclonal antibody, was blindly compared to the oxacillin disk diffusion test, the oxacillin-salt agar screen, and PCR of the mecA gene for the detection of methicillin resistance in Staphylococcus aureus. A total of 120 methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) and 80 methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) isolates, defined by the absence or presence of the mecA gene, respectively, were tested. The MRSA-Screen test, the oxacillin disk diffusion test, and the oxacillin-salt agar screening test showed sensitivities of 100, 61.3, and 82.5% and specificities of 99.2, 96.7, and 98.3%, respectively. We conclude that the MRSA-Screen is a very accurate, reliable, and fast test (15 min) for differentiation of MRSA from MSSA colonies on agar plates.

A simple logical approach to questioned envelopes examination.

This case report outlines research undertaken as the result of a document examination case in which two envelopes were involved. The combination of the circumstances of the case and the results of the examination allows a simple application of a logical approach to pre-assess the probability that an envelope (or a package) potentially recovered at a suspect's home comes from the same batch (same source) as questioned envelopes. This highlights that it is useful to examine envelopes.

Basket manager: administració web i comerç electrònic en entorns de programari lliure

Joc en línia senzill de gestió esportiva basat en bàsquet.

Serious game de código abierto para la educación y entrenamiento en el procedimiento de artroscopia de rodilla

En esta memoria se describe el diseño a nivel conceptual de un serious game con el objetivo de ofrecer soluciones para la mejora del aprendizaje y adquisición de aptitudes y habilidades de los residentes-profesionales en las técnicas de artroscopia de rodilla, con el objetivo de comprobar la hipótesis de que los modelos de aprendizaje basados en videojuegos pueden servir de puente entre el cuerpo teórico de la especialidad y el ejercicio práctico, reduciendo los riesgos de las primeras intervenciones y acelerando la formación de los especialistas, en otras palabras, difuminando el umbral entre teoría y práctica y reduciendo los costos derivados del ejercicio práctico (económicos y temporales) y a su vez, paliando las necesidades formativas de estas.

TDA-H más que un simple trastorno

El TDA-H es un trastorno que no solo afecta y dificulta al niño su aprendizaje, sino que sus relaciones sociales, su entorno se ven trastornados. Lo que provoca al niño con TDA-H un sentimiento de soledad y de inseguridad que afecta negativa y directamente a su autoestima, lo que acrecienta aun más su problemática. Por ello es importante que familia y escuela se alíen a la hora de luchar contra este trastorno, haciendo partícipe al niño en esta lucha, donde el trió familia-escuela-niñoTDA-H han de trabajar de manera simbiótica, para que el niño pueda superar todas las dificultades que este trastorno arrastra con él. El diagnostico temprano es imprescindible, pero se debe empezar a trabajar a partir de las primeras alarmas que se despierten y que suelen despertarse en la escuela. Esto aliviará e incluso esquivará algunos de los golpes que este niño TDA-H tendrá que ir superando, hasta iniciar su correcto tratamiento.

A simple approach improving the performance of urine reagent strips for rapid diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis in Nigerian schoolchildren

In Nigeria, schistosomiasis, caused predominantly by the species Schistosoma haematobium, is highly endemic in resource-poor communities. We performed a school-based survey in two rural communities in Osun State (Southwestern Nigeria) and assessed macrohaematuria, microhaematuria and proteinuria as indirect indicators for the presence of disease. Urine samples were inspected macroscopically for haematuria and screened for microhaematuria and proteinuria using urine reagent strips. The microscopic examination of schistosome eggs was used as the gold standard for diagnosis. In total, 447 schoolchildren were included in this study and had a 51% prevalence of urinary schistosomiasis. The sensitivity of microhaematuria (68%) and proteinuria (53%) for infection with S. haematobium was relatively low. In patients with a heavy infection (>500 eggs/10 mL), the sensitivity of microhaematuria was high (95%). When the presence of macrohaematuria and the concomitant presence of microhaematuria and proteinuria were combined, it revealed a sensitivity of 63%, a specificity of 93% and a positive predictive value of 91%. Macrohaematuria also showed high specificity (96%) and a positive predictive value of 92%, while sensitivity was < 50%. These data show that combining urine reagent strip tests (presence of proteinuria and microhaematuria) and information on macrohaematuria increased the accuracy of the rapid diagnosis of urinary schistosomiasis in an endemic rural West African setting. This simple approach can be used to increase the quality of monitoring of schistosomiasis in schoolchildren.

Moderating effects of management control systems and innovation on performance. Simple methods for correcting the effects of measurement error for interaction effects in small samples

In the accounting literature, interaction or moderating effects are usually assessed by means of OLS regression and summated rating scales are constructed to reduce measurement error bias. Structural equation models and two-stage least squares regression could be used to completely eliminate this bias, but large samples are needed. Partial Least Squares are appropriate for small samples but do not correct measurement error bias. In this article, disattenuated regression is discussed as a small sample alternative and is illustrated on data of Bisbe and Otley (in press) that examine the interaction effect of innovation and style of use of budgets on performance. Sizeable differences emerge between OLS and disattenuated regression

Contrast ultrasound: a simple-to-use phase-shifting medium offers saline infusion sonography-like images.

OBJECTIVE: To test the ability of a novel phase-shifting medium (PSM) to provide sustained distension of the uterine cavity and produce saline infusion sonography (SIS)-like images in a simplified contrast ultrasound procedure. DESIGN: Prospective pilot feasibility trial of a new diagnostic procedure, contrast ultrasound. SETTING: Clinical reproductive endocrine and infertility unit of regional teaching hospital. PATIENT(S): Twenty-six asymptomatic infertile women (group I) and 27 women presenting with dysfunctional uterine bleeding (DUB) who were scheduled for exploratory surgery (group II). INTERVENTION(S): All women who were temporarily on oral contraceptive first had a regular pelvic ultrasound followed by the intrauterine instillation of up to 3 mL PSM, using a regular insemination catheter, after which all instruments were removed and a regular ultrasound was performed again. RESULT(S): In all 53 women, intrauterine instillation of 1-3 mL PSM resulted in a 3-7 mm uterine distension, sufficient to produce SIS-like images of the uterine cavity that lasted 7-10 min. Contrast ultrasound revealed an endometrial polyp in 3 asymptomatic women of group I. In group II. 12 of 14 women (86%) whose vaginal ultrasound were positive or dubious had positive findings with contrast ultrasound; 9 of 12 patients whose vaginal ultrasounds were negative also had positive contrast ultrasound findings. All the positive and negative findings of contrast ultrasound made in group II were confirmed anatomically (sensitivity and specificity of 100%), whereas the correlation for standard vaginal ultrasound was markedly lower at 57.1% and 85.7%, respectively. Most patients (46 of 53) reported no discomfort during or after the procedure, and 7 women described the procedure as mildly uncomfortable. CONCLUSION(S): Contrast ultrasound, a novel simple diagnostic procedure conducted after intrauterine instillation of 1-3 mL PSM using a simple plastic catheter, delivered SIS-quality images in asymptomatic (group I) and symptomatic (group II) patients while retaining the simplicity of standard ultrasound. We therefore foresee broad application of contrast ultrasound for sensitive and specific assessment for uterine pathologies in the physician's office.

Dermatophyte identification in skin and hair samples using a simple and reliable nested polymerase chain reaction assay.

BACKGROUND: Dermatophyte identification in tinea capitis is essential for choosing the appropriate treatment and in tinea infections to identify the possible source. The failure of fungi to grow in cultures frequently occurs, especially in cases of previous antifungal therapy. OBJECTIVES: To develop a rapid polymerase chain reaction (PCR) sequencing assay for dermatophyte identification in tinea capitis and tinea corporis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Fungal DNA was extracted from hair and skin samples that were confirmed to be positive by direct mycological examination. Dermatophytes were identified by the sequence of a 28S ribosomal DNA subunit amplicon generated by nested PCR. RESULTS: Nested PCR was found to be necessary to obtain amplicons in substantial amounts for dermatophyte identification by sequencing. The results agreed with those of classical mycological identification in 14 of 23, 6 of 10, and 20 of 23 cases of tinea capitis, tinea corporis and tinea pedis, respectively, from which a dermatophyte was obtained in culture. In seven of the 56 cases, another dermatophyte was identified, revealing previous misidentification. A dermatophyte was identified in 12 of 18, three of five, and four of nine cases of tinea capitis, tinea corporis and tinea pedis, respectively, in cases in which no dermatophyte grew in culture. CONCLUSIONS: Although the gold standard dermatophyte identification from clinical samples remains fungal cultures, the assay developed in the present study is especially suitable for tinea capitis. Improved sensitivity for the identification of dermatophyte species was obtained as it is possible to identify the dermatophyte when the fungus fails to grow in cultures.

Relación de la susceptibilidad genética y de las características anatomopatológicas del cáncer de próstata con los polimorfismos de nucleótido simple

Actualmente no se disponen de marcadores biológicos específicos para la cáncer de próstata produciéndose en muchas ocasiones biopsias prostáticas innecesarias o un sobretratamientos para cánceres indolentes. Existen cada vez más un número mayor de publicaciones sobre cómo los polimorfismos de nucleótido simple (SNP) se relacionan con la susceptibilidad al cáncer de próstata o predecir con mayor precisión qué grado de agresividad adquiere la enfermedad. Se presenta una revisión bibliográfica de las investigaciones publicadas en PubMed desde el año 2000 hasta el 2012 que ponen de manifiesto la relación de los SNP con el riesgo a padecer cáncer de próstata y con sus características anatomopatológicas.