Group FF Research Articles

Marginal adaptation of bulk-fill resin composites with different viscosities in class II restorations: a micro-CT evaluation

BackgroundThe purpose of this study is to evaluate the marginal adaptation of bulk-fill resin composites with different viscosities (paste-like and flowable) in Class II restorations using micro-CT imaging.MethodsForty extracted human molars were used. Mesial and distal Class II box cavities (approximately 3 mm x 3 mm x 4 mm) were prepared for each tooth, with cavity floors located 1 mm below the enamel-cementum junction. Following adhesive application, teeth were restored using eight different groups: Group XB: X-tra Base Bulk-fill Flowable (VOCO), Group XF: X-tra Fill Bulk-fill (VOCO), Group FB: Filtek Bulk-fill Posterior (3 M ESPE), Group FF: Filtek Bulk-fill Flowable (3 M ESPE), Group BB: Beautifil-Bulk (SHOFU), Group BF: Beautifil-Bulk Flowable (SHOFU), and Group CO: “as a control group”, Clearfil Majesty Posterior (KURARAY) and Group CF: “as a control group”, Clearfil Majesty Flow + Clearfil Majesty Posterior (KURARAY). The restored teeth underwent an aging protocol involving 1000 cycles in a water bath fluctuating between 5 ± 1.0 °C and 55 ± 1.0 °C. Post-aging, teeth were immersed in 50% silver nitrate solution for 24 h and then in a film developer solution for 8 h. Microleakage analysis was performed using micro-CT, evaluated with 3D Slicer software. A two-way ANOVA was employed for statistical analysis.ResultsTwo-way ANOVA results indicated significant effects of both viscosity (p < 0.0001) and composite type (p < 0.0001) on marginal adaptation. Viscosity analysis (comparing flowable and paste-like) revealed no significant differences in the FB-FF, XB-XF and BB-BF groups but significant differences in the and CO-CF group, with flowable type exhibiting less microleakage than paste-like type.ConclusionsThe study suggests that while the viscosity of bulk-fill composites did not significantly affect marginal adaptation, the brand of bulk-fill composite did influence it.

Fishmeal Protein Replacement by Defatted and Full-Fat Black Soldier Fly Larvae Meal in Juvenile Turbot Diet: Effects on the Growth Performance and Intestinal Microbiota.

A 12-week feeding trial was conducted to investigate the effect of the same fishmeal protein level replaced by black soldier fly larvae (Hermetia illucens) meal (BSFL) with different lipid contents on the growth performance and intestinal health of juvenile turbot (Scophthalmus maximus L.) (initial body weight 12.64 g). Three isonitrogenous and isolipidic diets were formulated: fish meal-based diet (FM), diets DF and FF, in which 14% fish meal protein of the FM diet was replaced by defatted and full-fat BSFL, respectively. There were no significant differences in growth performance, intestinal morphology, and mucosal barrier function between the DF and the FM group. However, diet FF markedly reduced the growth performance, intestinal perimeter ratio, and the gene expression of anti-inflammatory cytokine TGF-β (P < 0.05). Compared to group FF, the communities of intestinal microbiota in group DF were more similar to group FM. Moreover, diet DF decreased the abundance of some potential pathogenic bacteria and enriched the potential probiotics, such as Bacillus. Diet FF obviously altered the composition of intestinal microbiota and increased the abundance of some potential pathogenic bacteria. These results suggested that the application of defatted BSFL showed more positive effects on fish growth and intestinal health than the full-fat BSFL, and the intestinal microbiota was closely involved in these effects.

The feces of sea urchins as food improves survival, growth, and resistance of small sea cucumbers Apostichopus japonicus in summer

Mass mortality and low growth highly decrease the production efficiency and sustainable aquaculture development of the sea cucumber Apostichopus japonicus in summer. Sea urchin feces was proposed to address the summer problems. A laboratory study was conducted for ~ 5 weeks to investigate survival, food consumption, growth and resistance ability of A. japonicus cultured with the feces of sea urchins fed kelp (KF feces, group KF), the feces of sea urchins fed prepared feed (FF feces, group FF), and the prepared sea cucumber feed (group S) at high temperature (25 °C). The sea cucumbers of group KF had better survival (100%) than those of the group FF (~ 84%), higher CTmax (35.9 °C) than those of the group S (34.5 °C), and the lowest skin ulceration proportion (0%) when they were exposed to an infectious solution among the three groups. These results suggest that the feces of sea urchins fed kelp is a promising diet for improving the survival and enhancing the resistance in A. japonicus aquaculture in summer. Sea cucumbers fed significantly less FF feces after 24 h of ageing than the fresh FF feces, suggesting this kind of feces became unsuitable for A. japonicus in a short time (within 48 h). However, the 24 h of ageing at 25 °C for the high fiber feces of sea urchins fed kelp had no significant effects on the fecal consumption of sea cucumbers. In the present study, both fecal diets provide better individual growth to sea cucumbers than the prepared feed. Yet, the feces of sea urchins fed kelp provided the highest weight gain rate (WGR) to sea cucumbers. Therefore, the feces of sea urchins fed kelp is a promising food to reduce the mortality, to address the problems of summer, and to achieve higher efficiency in A. japonicus aquaculture in summer.

Identification of high-risk Fontan candidates by intraoperative pulmonary flow study

BackgroundPre-Fontan risk stratification is still less than optimal. We aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of intraoperative pulmonary flow study (IOFS), in combination with conventional preoperative evaluation, in the identification of high-risk candidates for the Fontan operation. MethodData from 37 patients (age: 38.1 ± 4.9 months) who underwent the Fontan operation with IOFS were retrospectively reviewed. After anastomosing the Gore-Tex vascular graft to the confluent pulmonary artery, IOFS was performed through the graft at various cardiac indices (CI) (1–4 L/min/m2) generated from a roller pump. Mean pulmonary artery pressure (mPAP) and left atrial pressure (LAP) were recorded. The patients were divided into two groups: those who required Fontan circuit fenestration (group Ff) and those who did not (group Fn). ResultsEleven patients (29.7%) required fenestration, intraoperatively (n = 4) and postoperatively (n = 7), due to hemodynamic instability. Heterotaxy syndrome (P = 0.005) and atrioventricular valvar regurgitation (P = 0.04) were more frequent, and ventricle posterior wall thickness (VPWT) was higher (P = 0.024) in group Ff. On IOFS, the increase in mPAP by CI was sharper in group Ff than in group Fn (P < 0.001) owing to an increase in LAP. On multivariable analysis, mPAP at a CI of 3.0 L/min/m2 from IOFS was the only predictor of fenestration and correlated with preoperative VPWT (R = 0.543, P = 0.001). ConclusionsIOFS may be helpful to identify high-risk Fontan candidates, and high mPAP at CI of 3.0 L/min/m2 on IOFS is a significant predictor of the requirement for fenestration. VPWT is an important preoperative risk factor which correlates with the IOFS results.

Outcome of posterior fixed dental prostheses made from veneered zirconia over an observation period of up to 13 years

ObjectivesIt was the aim of this clinical study to evaluate the long-term outcome of 3- to 4-unit posterior all-ceramic fixed dental prostheses (FDPs) made from veneered zirconia ceramic. MethodsBetween June 2003 and February 2005, 48 patients received 58 restorations. Twenty-four FDPs had a fixed-to-fixed design (FF) and thirty-four FDPs had a cantilever design (CA). Frameworks were scanned and milled out of 3 mol% yttrium-oxide partially-stabilized zirconia ceramic (CerconBase30, Degudent) and were veneered with feldspathic ceramic (CerconCeramS, Degudent). All FDPs were cemented with glass-ionomer cement (Ketac-Cem, 3 MEspe) after air-abrading the inner crown surfaces. ResultsThe mean observation period was 85.4 ± 54 (FF) and 91.7 ± 50 (CA) months, respectively. Ten cantilever FDPs and 5 fixed FDPs were lost due to biological problems of the abutment teeth. Two cantilever FDPs and 4 fixed-to-fixed FDPs were lost due to technical failures of the ceramic materials. The cumulative 13-year survival rate was 43.2% (FF) (CI: 22.8–66.2%) and 52.5% (CA) (CI: 32.5–71.8), respectively. In 13 cases, intraoral repair or polishing of the fractured feldspathic ceramic veneers was needed (7 in group FF, 6 in CA). Eight abutments of six restorations (4 in FF, 4 in CA) had to be treated endodontically and caries therapy was needed in 6 abutment teeth (4 in group FF, 2 in CA). The cumulative 13-year success rate was 29.5% (FF) (CI: 12.1–55.9%) and 22.5% (CA) (CI: 7.9–49.3%). ConclusionsWithin the limitations of the present investigation, posterior fixed dental prostheses made from veneered zirconia with either a fixed-to fixed or a cantilever design show comparable survival and success rates after 13 years of clinical observation. Clinical SignificanceFDPs made from veneered zirconia ceramic present high failure and complication rates, irrespective of the design (fixed-to-fixed or cantilevered).

Correlation of gastric cancer and effects of vitamin D receptor gene FokⅠ polymorphism on C-reactive protein and D-dimer in Uygur nationality patients

This study aimed to determine the correlation of Uygur gastric cancer and the polymorphism effects of vitamin D receptor gene FokⅠ on C-reactive protein and D-dimer. Method of random sampling was used to select 147 Uygur patients with gastric cancer who admitted at Tumor Hospital of Xinjing Medical University (Group A) and 151 healthy controls with the same nationality (Group B). Polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method was used to determine FokⅠ loci polymorphism in both groups to identify the gastric cancer susceptibility gene. All patients were divided into Group FF (Group a) and Group Ff+ ff (Group b) by PCR-RFLP according to the f-gene carrier to compare the expression level of C-reactive protein and D-dimer. The expression frequency of the f allelic gene of patients with gastric cancer was higher than that of healthy control patients (57.8% vs 47.4%, P<0.05). The carriers of the f allelic gene (Ff+ ff) had increased risk of gastric cancer (OR=2.85). Measurement levels of C-reactive protein and D-dimer in the f allelic gene group were higher than those of the non-f allelic gene group (4.72±1.65 vs 2.81±0.93, and 2.79±1.21 vs 1.09±0.65, respectively), and the differences were statistically significant (P<0.05). The FokⅠ loci polymorphism of vitamin D receptor gene was related to gastric cancer susceptibility in Uygur. f allelic gene may be one of the risk factors of gastric cancer in Uygur. Moreover, f allelic gene may be a factor that increased the level of C-reactive protein and D-dimer in Uygur patients with gastric cancer.

Feeding programmes based on highly-digestible fibre weaning diets: Effects on health, growth performance and carcass and meat quality in rabbits

The effect of three different dietary programmes on health, growth performance and carcass and meat quality in young rabbits weaned at 28d was studied using a diet (F) rich in highly-digestible fibre, from 17 to 63d of age (group FF); using diet F from 17 to 42d followed by a diet poor in highly-digestible fibre and rich in starch and fat (S) until 63d (group FS); and using a standard diet C with intermediate highly-digestible fibre and starch content, containing 100ppm of zinc-bacitracin, from 17 to 63d (group CC). A highly-digestible fibre diet could be useful to reduce the incidence of digestive disorders. However, it decreased slaughter weight (2294g in FF vs. 2406g in CC; P<0.05) and carcass and meat traits, e.g. dressing out percentage (55.4% in FF vs. 56.7% in CC; P<0.05), meat to bone ratio (5.73 in FF vs. 5.94 in CC; P<0.05) and hind leg fat content (3.81% in FF vs. 4.71% in CC; P<0.05) at 63d of age. Switching to a high starch and fat diet at late fattening improved chilled carcass weight at 63d of age (1339g in FS vs. 1263g in FF; P<0.05) mainly through the promotion of liver development (7.53% in group FS vs. 6.47% in group FF; P<0.05) and fat deposition (3.89% in FS vs. 2.63% in FF; P<0.05), and increased hind leg fat content (+1.2 points of fat percentage; P<0.05). However, this switch increased health risk (35.1% in FS vs. 17.6% in FF; P<0.05).

Fracture Resistance of Premolar Teeth Restored with Silorane‐Based or Dimethacrylate‐Based Composite Resins

To restore posterior teeth using low-shrinkage composite to minimize microleakage. To compare the fracture resistance of mesio-occlusal-distal (MOD) cavity preparations restored with either low-shrinkage composite or with dimethacrylate-based composite in conjunction with cavity liners and without them. The null hypothesis of the study is that there are no differences in either fracture resistance or fracture mode between the silorane group and dimethacrylate groups with and without the use of cavity liners. Sixty maxillary premolars were divided into six groups of 10. MOD cavities were prepared in four groups: F: posterior composite (Filtek P60); GF: 0.5-mm Glass Ionomer (Fuji LC) + posterior composite; FF: 0.5-mm flowable composite (Filtek Supreme XT) + posterior composite; and S: low-shrinkage composite (Filtek P90). Negative (N) and positive (P) control groups consisted of unrestored and sound teeth, respectively. The specimens were thermocycled and loaded. Data were analyzed using analysis of variance, Tukey, and chi-square tests (α = 0.05). Groups FF (1643.09 ± 187/80 N) and GF (1596.80 ± 163/93 N) (p = 0.06 > 0.05) were statistically identical, although less than group P (1742/33 ± 110/08 N), but still demonstrated greater fracture resistance than the other groups. The fracture resistance of group S (1434/69 ± 107/62 N) was identical to GF and FF (p = 0.06 > 0.05). The fracture resistance of F (1353/19 ± 233/90 N) was less than GF and FF, and statistically identical to S (p = 0.87 > 0.05). Silorane-based composite showed a resistance to fracture similar to methacrylate-based composite restorations regardless of whether cavity liners were used. The findings of this study support the selection of silorane-based composite for the restoration of maxillary premolars with standardized Class II cavity preparations in order to strengthen the resistance to fracture to the same extent as do dimethacrylate composites using cavity liners or without them.

Association between type III prostatitis and vitamin D receptor gene Fok I polymorphism

Objective To investigate the association between F/f single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of Fok Ⅰ in vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene and type Ⅲ prostatitis.Methods In 103 patients with type Ⅲ prostatitis (group A) and 100 control patients without prostatitis (group B),VDR gene Fok ⅠSNP was detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP).The distribution of genotype and allelic frequencies were analyzed.Multiple Logistic analysis was used to examine the association between SNP of Fok Ⅰ and type Ⅲ prostatitis.Results The genotype distribution of VDR gene FokⅠ was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium in both two groups.Genotype distribution of FF,Ff and ff in group A was 28％ (29/103),31％ (32/103) and 41％ (42/103) respectively,and 31％ (31/100),35％ (35/100),34％ (34/100) respectively in group B.There was significant difference between two groups in frequency distribution of ff genotype (P ＜ 0.05).The distribution of allelic frequencies of F and f was 44％ (90/206) and 56％ (116/206) in group A,and 49％ (97/200),51％ (103/200) in group B,respectively.There was significant difference between two groups in frequency distribution of allele (P ＜0.05).The FokⅠ polymorphism was an independent risk factor with type Ⅲ prostatitis by multiple Logistic analysis (P ＜ 0.05).Conclusion VDR FokⅠpolymorphisms are correlated with type Ⅲ prostatitis. Key words: Prostatitis; Single nucleotide polymorphism; Vitamin D receptor

Changes in Corneal Biomechanics in Patients With Keratoconus After Penetrating Keratoplasty

To examine the biomechanical properties of keratoconic eyes following penetrating keratoplasty and to compare results with the biomechanical characteristics of manifest keratoconus, forme fruste keratoconus and normal eyes as measured with the Reichert ocular response analyzer (ORA). This retrospective analysis comprised a total of 169 eyes: 34 eyes with forme fruste keratoconus (group FF), 36 eyes with manifest keratoconus (Group KC), 36 eyes that have undergone penetrating keratoplasty (Group PK) and a control group of 63 normal eyes (Group N). Corneal hysteresis (CH), corneal resistance factor (CRF), corneal compensated intraocular pressure, and Goldmann correlated intraocular pressure were measured by ORA. Central corneal thickness was calculated by the integrated handheld ultrasonic pachymeter of the ORA. The statistical analysis focused on CH and CRF changes among the 4 groups. When compared with normal eyes, mean CH and CRF values were found significantly lower in all groups (P < 0.05). Mean CH values were 8.19 ± 1.49 mm Hg in Group KC, 9.21 ± 1.38 mm Hg in Group FF, 10.16 ± 1.93 mm Hg in Group PK, and 11.43 ± 1.52 mm Hg in normal eyes (Group N). Although there was not a significant difference in mean CH values between Groups PK and FF (P = 0.072), the difference was significant between Groups KC as well as FF and Groups KC and PK (P < 0.05). Mean CRF values were found as 6.79 ± 1.81 mm Hg (Group KC), 8.21 ± 1.64 mm Hg (Group FF), 9.94 ± 2.34 mm Hg (Group PK), and 11.53 ± 1.83 mm Hg in Group N. The difference was statistically significant among all groups (P < 0.05). Penetrating keratoplasty has a beneficial effect on corneal biomechanics in keratoconic eyes. CH and CRF parameters approach the range of normal eyes after corneal transplantation.

PENGARUH PELATIHAN KECERDASAN SPIRITUAL TERHADAP TINGKAT KECEMASAN MAHASISWA YANG SEDANG MENGERJAKAN SKRIPSI

Ttiis experiment examined the influence of spiritual intelligence training on student college anxiety that enrolls undergraduate studies. The hypothesis was that there is a significant anxiety level difference between experimental and control group. The subjects of this experiment were Student College with age ranging from 22 26 years old. The design of this experiment was Pretest Posttest with Control Group Design. A measure of student anxiety was developed by using aspects from Nevid (2003). The training module was developed on the basis of Emmons Theory (Hendrawati, 2004). Data were analyzed using gain score method. The result show that there is an anxiety level difference between experimental and control group ff =- 3,732. p = 0,003, p&lt;0,05). 77ms means that the spiritual intelligence training show influence in decreasing student anxiety. An experiment group data analysis show that there is an anxiety difference prior and after the training (t=-16.819; p&lt;0.01). The result of this experiment confirmed the hypothesis. Keyword: spiritual intelligence training, anxiety

Systemic Inflammatory Response After Extremity or Truncal Fracture Operations

The purpose of this study was to assess proinflammatory markers in blunt trauma patients regarding the relationship of these and blood loss and duration of surgery in different fracture locations. Prospective, multicenter, nonrandomized cohort study. Three level I trauma centers. Sixty-eight blunt trauma patients, who did not require emergency operations and had sustained truncal or extremity fractures, were included. In two index patient groups, patients with spinal fractures (group SF, n = 24) and pelvic and acetabular fractures (group PAF, n = 21) underwent fixation of their fractures and were compared with a group of patients with isolated fractures (group FF, n = 28). Ten healthy volunteers served as controls. Internal fixation of pelvic, acetabular and spinal fractures, intramedullary nailing of femoral fractures, measurement of proinflammatory cytokines. From serially sampled central venous blood, the perioperative concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and IL-8 were evaluated during a 24-hour period and set into relation with the duration of surgery and the degree of blood loss. Intramedullary instrumentation for isolated PAF caused a significant perioperative increase in the concentrations of IL-6 (preoperative: 16 pg/mL +/- 12 pg/mL, 7 hours: 89 pg/mL +/- 15 pg/mL, and 24 hours: 107 pg/mL +/- 27 pg/mL, p < 0.05). This increase was comparable with the isolated femoral fracture (group FF: IL-6 preoperative, 52 pg/mL +/- 12 pg/mL; 7 hours, 78 pg/mL +/- 14 pg/mL; and 24 hours, 120 pg/mL +/- 23 pg/mL, p = 0.02). The changes observed after spinal fracture fixations (group SF) were considerably lower (IL-6 preoperative: 11 pg/mL +/- 6 pg/mL, 7 hours: 16 pg/mL +/- 11 pg/mL, and 24 hours: 56 pg/mL +/- 19 pg/mL). The percent change of baseline IL-6 and IL-8 concentrations, and the blood loss in group PAF at 24 hours were positively correlated (IL-6 r = 0.72, p < 0.03, IL-8 0.67, p = 004) after insertion. No correlation with the duration of surgery was found. The release of proinflammatory cytokines was higher in patients when their pelvic fractures were operated than in patients with spine fracture fixations, and was associated with the degree of blood loss. A higher increase in cytokine levels occurred when they were performed early (day 1-2) across all patient groups. The level of the released markers seems to be related to the magnitude of surgery, rather than to the duration of the procedure. This study supports the value of immunologic markers in determining subclinical changes during and after orthopedic surgical procedures.

Effect of nursing methods and faeces consumption on the development of the bacteroides, lactobacillus and coliform flora in the caecum of the newborn rabbits

The effect of nursing method and ingestion of maternal faeces on the development of the bacteroides, lactobacillus and coliform flora of the caecum in the first 10 days of life were examined in freely nursed pups having access to maternal faeces (Group FF), pups nursed once a day and having access (Group CF), or having no access (Group CN) to maternal faeces. Colonisation of the caecum by Bacteroides commenced already on day 3 after birth. On day 2 the bacteroides counts were below 100, while on day 4 they were already between 100 and 10,000. In Group CN, the Bacteroides counts were lower (by 14 to 40%) throughout the 10-day period studied than in the groups having access to maternal faeces. Differences between groups were significant only on days 4 and 6. The average number of maternal faecal pellets left behind the doe in Group CN was 3-4 (between 0.5 and 6.4 per doe). In Groups FF and CF the pellets became smaller, crumbled and finally disappeared from the nest box, they were consumed by the pups and could be found in their gastric content. The lactobacillus counts decreased in all three groups with age, from 6.0 to 3.5 log10 CFU.g-1 (FF), 4.6 to 2.8 log10 CFU.g-1 (CF) and 5.1 to 3.1 log10 CFU.g-1 (CN), respectively. The coliform counts were higher in the first 4 days in FF (5.6 log10 CFU.g-1) than in CF (< 2 log10 CFU.g-1) and CN (2-3.6 log10 CFU.g-1) animals. Bacteroides could be cultured from the surface of the vulvar labia (max. 1000 colony count) and the vagina (max. 190 colony count), so young rabbits could become "infected" by them already in the doe's vagina. Thus prevention of ingestion of maternal faeces only slightly influenced the development of the bacteroides flora, the faeces left behind by the doe did not play an exclusive role in their colonisation.

Increased cycle length variability during ventricular fibrillation: a novel predictor of arrhythmia recurrence

Abstract To evaluate the clinical value of cycle length (CL) variability during ventricular fibrillation (VF), 26 patients who underwent implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) implantation were enrolled. In VF induced for defibrillation testing, mean and SD of VFCL, mean successive differences (MSD) of VFCL, and coefficient of variations of the VFCL (CV FF ) (SD×100/mean VFCL) were calculated. During the follow-up period of 20 ± 2 months, ventricular arrhythmias recurred in 13 patients. MSD and CV FF were 31 ± 3 * ms and 15.6 ± 1.3 ** in recurrence group (n = 13), and 17 ± 2 ms and 9.0 ±1.1 in non-recurrence group (n = 13) ( * P ** P FF in each patient was confirmed by the Bland-Altman method. In VF induced by programmed ventricular stimulation before ICD implantation, MSD and CV FF in recurrence group were also increased significantly. Kaplan-Meier estimates revealed that MSD ≥ 20 ms and CV FF ≥ 12 predicted higher arrhythmia recurrence (MSD, P = .039; CV FF , P = .0069 by the log-rank test). By multivariate analysis, CV FF ≥ 12 was a significant predictor of recurrent arrhythmic events ( P = .019). In conclusion, the CL variability of VF, which was evaluated as MSD and CV FF , is increased in patients with arrhythmia recurrence. These values may reflect the degree of electrical heterogeneity, and appears to be useful indexes of the future arrhythmic events.

Relationship between fear of falling and balancing ability during abrupt deceleration in aged women having similar habitual physical activities.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the influence of fear of falling on balancing ability during abrupt deceleration in aged women. The subjects were 20 women aged between 67 and 75 years. They were classified into two groups, one having a fear of falling (group FF, n = 10) and another without this fear (group NFF, n = 10). The two groups had similar daily physical activities. Changes in the centre of foot pressure (CFP) were measured during postural sway following horizontal deceleration of the force platform on which they were standing, and the response time and CFP displacement were evaluated. In addition, the electromyogram (EMG) onset in the tibialis anterior muscle and medial gastrocnemius muscle during abrupt deceleration, and its difference between the two muscles were measured. and the relative level of co-contraction of antagonistic muscles (the co-contraction index, CCI) in the lower extremity muscle group was calculated. The response time and CFP displacement immediately after abrupt deceleration were significantly higher in group FF than in NFF (P < 0.05). The EMG onset in the two muscles did not significantly differ between the two groups. The difference in EMG onset between the two muscles was significantly lower in group FF than in NFF (P < 0.05). The CCI was significantly higher in group FF than in NFF (P < 0.05). These results suggest that there were negative effects of a fear of falling on the balancing ability immediately after abrupt deceleration. This may be because a fear of falling increases the co-contraction of antagonist muscles in the lower extremity muscle group.

Utility of blood cultures in community-acquired pneumonia requiring hospitalization: influence of antibiotic treatment before admission

It has been previously shown that antibiotics given before hospitalization significantly reduce the proportion of positive blood cultures in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). The aim of this prospective study was to compare the utility and cost-benefits of blood cultures in patients, hospitalized for moderate CAP, who had or had not received antibiotic therapy prior to admission. During 1 year, 53 patients were included and separated into two groups: group 1 patients had not received antibiotic treatment prior to admission ( n=30), whereas group 2 patients had been treated with antibiotics ( n=23). Within the first 48 hours, a set of blood cultures was collected if the body temperature was higher than 38·5°C or in the case of shaking chills. A total of 136 blood cultures was collected; 74 in group 1 and 62 in group 2. Bacteraemia was significantly more frequent in group 1 than in group 2, 5 30 patients vs. 0 23 , respectively ( P<0·05). The cost of negative blood cultures was valued at 13,939.2 FF in group 1 and 13,164.8 FF in group 2, respectively 464.6 ± 244.3 FF and 569.3 ± 233.4 FF per patient (n.s.). Moreover, blood cultures were the method of diagnosis in only one of the five patients with bacteraemia and in no case did a positive blood-culture result influence the initial therapeutic regime. Thus, our results suggest a reduced clinical utility and cost-benefit of blood cultures in patients hospitalized for moderate CAP who have received an antibiotic treatment prior to admission.

Implantation: Endometrial and placental protein markers and ovarian steroids in serum during in-vitro fertilization cycles

The objective of this study was to find the earliest time at which it was possible to detect clinical pregnancy in an in-vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle supported with human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG), and also retrospectively to diagnose abnormal ovarian- or endometrium-related situations in failure cycles. Serum samples were taken in 41 IVF cycles at frequent intervals from the beginning of ovarian stimulation until menstrual bleeding occurred or a pregnancy was established. Concentrations of oestradiol, progesterone, placental protein 14 (PP14), pregnancy-specific beta 1-glycoprotein (SP1), and pregnancy-associated plasma protein A (PAPP-A) were determined in the serum samples using commercially available (steroid) or purpose-developed (protein) immunoassays. The cycles were retrospectively distributed into four outcome groups: (i) fertilization failure (FF, n = 8); (ii) implantation failure (IF, n = 10); (iii) 'interaction' (embryo-endometrium) cycle (IC, n = 14), and (iv) clinical pregnancy (CP, n = 9). The embryo-endometrium interaction was detected by a rise in SP1 in 23 cycles (70% of embryo transfers) at a time when endogenous HCG was still masked by external support. Early ('false') positive SP1 concentrations were observed in two out of eight and five out of 14 cases in groups FF and IC respectively, but never amongst the ongoing pregnancies (CP). PAPP-A did not distinguish pregnancy from the other outcomes. The PP14/progesterone ratio was lower, later in the cycle, in CP than in the other groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Serological response of sheep to live and killed Staphylococcus aureus vaccines

Adult sheep were immunized intramuscularly with a killed, in vivo-grown Staphylococcus aureus vaccine combined either with dextran sulphate (group DD) or with Freund's incomplete adjuvant (group FF). Another group (LL) received an attenuated live S. aureus vaccine intracutaneously. The animals were given a primary vaccination followed two weeks later by a booster vaccination. A fourth group of sheep (group LD) was primed with the live vaccine and given a booster vaccination with the killed vaccine combined with dextran sulphate. ELISA was used to quantify blood serum levels of IgM, IgG 1 and IgG 2 antibody directed against the pseudocapsular antigens of S. aureus grown under in vivo conditions. Groups LD, DD, and FF had sharp increases in mean levels of IgM antibody in the first few weeks after vaccination with another large increase in mean values for group FF at 12 weeks after primary vaccination. Group LL showed virtually no increase in levels of IgG 1 antibody; the other three groups had maximum mean values for IgG 1 antibody at 5 weeks (FF) and 8 weeks (LD and DD) after primary vaccination. All groups had large IgG 2 antibody responses (the largest for group LD), but the response for this isotype had waned by 14 weeks after primary vaccination. Examination of the ratios of IgG 2 antibody to IgG 1 antibody suggested that dextran sulphate may be a useful adjuvant for preferentially stimulating synthesis of IgG 2 antibody against staphylococcal pseudocapsular antigens.

Learning about water by hungry rats

In Experiments 1 and 2 hungry rats were trained in a straight alley with consistent food reward (FF), food and nonreward trials intermixed (FN), or food and water trials intermixed (FW). In Experiment 1 rats were tested with nonrewarded trials (extinction) and Groups FN and FW did not differ, both running faster then Group FF. In Experiment 2 rats were tested with consistent water reward, and Group FW ran faster then Group FN, which was superior to Group FF. In Experiment 3, one group of hungry rats was trained on a single alternating schedule of food and water in Phase 1 and was shifted to a single alternating schedule of food and nonreward in Phase 2 (Group FW); the second group (Group FN) received a single alternating schedule of food and nonreward in both phases. When Group FW was shifted to nonreward from water, performance to nonreward was temporarily disrupted. These results indicate that, contrary to previous conclusions, hungry rats can learn about water when drive is strong and food is received in the situation.

BREEDING OF MICE WITH SPONTANEOUS ALVEOLAR FORMATION IN THE MAMMARY GLAND. IV. RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE LEVEL OF FEEDING AND SPONTANEOUS ALVEOLAR FORMATION.

The effect of level of feeding on spontaneous alveolar formation (SAF) was investigated using 35 litters of KP group of mice.Each litter was divided into 2 groups after weaning till 70days of age; free fed group (group F) and restricted fed one (group R).The day of vaginal opening was about 33days after birth in group F and about 51days in group R. On the 70th day, frequency of SAF in group F was about 53%, on the other hand, it was 0% in group R.From the day of 71 th to 90th, some of the SAF positive mice in group F were given restricted food (group FR) and the rest and all of SAF negative mice continued to be fed freely (groups FF and FF'). Some of the group R were fed freely (group RF) and the rest continued to be fed as before (group RR).On the 90th day, half of the mice in group FF' showed positive SAF, frequency of SAF elevated then to 69% in the pooled data of groups FF and FF', and no animals showed positive SAF in group FR. The frequency of SAF in group RF was 44%, while all animals in group RR remained to be negative in SAF.The estrous cycles of some mice in each group were examined throughout the experiment, and it was ascertained that the ovary was active irrespective of feeding conditions. The SAF positive mice had always at least one long cycle.There were some differences among groups in body weights either on the 70th or 90th day and some organ weights on the 90th day. The significance of these findings was discussed.