Ten genome-wide scans have been conducted over the past few years in the search for psoriasis susceptibility genes, but only one potential susceptibility region has been consistently replicated. A ...meta-analysis using the genome-search meta-analysis method was undertaken combining the results of six of these psoriasis genome-wide studies. The results of this analysis revealed linkage to the major histocompatibility complex on chromosome 6p21 that includes the PSORS1 locus. In addition, linkage was also recorded to a region on chromosome 4q28–q31 previously identified only in a Chinese Hans population. Both these regions were statistically significant even after correction for multiple testing. A possible reason for the erratic replication of findings could be the large effect of the PSORS1 locus (6p21) masking the effect of other loci involved in psoriasis. To overcome this problem, we suggest that future studies condition on the effect of the PSORS1 locus.
The report Heart to Heart published in 2009 by the Foundation for Genomics and Population Health provided an account of new health services needs arising from greater scientific and clinical ...understanding of inherited cardiovascular conditions. Informed by advice from an expert working group, the report makes recommendations for the development of specialised inherited cardiovascular conditions services within the UK. The report will also be of relevance internationally, wherever cardiologists and geneticists aim to provide care for these patients and their families.
Frailty status has often been identified as a determining factor for outcomes after adult spinal deformity (ASD) corrective surgery and may result in a ceiling regarding the best possible outcome
...Identify cohorts of patients with low complication rates by frailty status and determine the duration of time they maintain a good surgical outcome.
Retrospective cohort study of a prospectively enrolled ASD database.
This study included 224 ASD patients.
Major complications, reoperations, patient-reported outcome measures (Oswestry Disability Index)
ASD patients with frailty measures, baseline (BL) and 2-year (2Y) ODI were included. Miller et al thresholds: Not Frail (NF) < 0.3; 0.3 < Frail (F) < 0.5; Severely Frail (SF) > 0.5. ANCOVA found estimated marginal means adjusting for age, invasiveness, and BL Sacral Slope, Pelvic Tilt, Pelvic Incidence, PI-LL, and SVA. Kaplan-Meier curve estimated time until major complication or reoperation. Linear regression analyzed ODI change between 1Y and 2Y. Reduction in ODI between 1Y and 2Y of 5+ points was improvement, within ±5 points maintenance, increasing by 5+ points deterioration. Minimum clinically important differences (MCID) for ODI at 2Y were also assessed.
Of 224 patients, 54.9% NF, 29.9% F, and 15.2% SF, difference in ODI from BL to 2Y in the most improved quartile (HIGHEST) by frailty group: NF: -4.51; F: -12.3; SF: -66.3 (p<0.001). SF HIGHEST major complication rate: 58.3%, F HIGHEST 29.4%, NF HIGHEST 41.8%. At 1Y, the quartile of NF with the lowest ODI had a mean score of 2.28, F 8.98, and SF 9.66 (p<0.001). Fewer SF patients did not experience any complications and had 2Y PI-LL < 10 (6.4%) compared to F (11.6%) and NF (16.0%) (p=0.002). NF had the least deterioration (16.3%, F: 29.8%, SF: 30.6%, p=0.099); however, groups were not significantly different in improvement (NF: 37.6%, F: 30.6%, SF: 36.6%, p=0.656). Higher 1Y ODI had greater odds of improvement (1.823 1.667-1.978, p<0.001). KM curve revealed that NF had longer estimated time before complication or reoperation (7.8 years) compared to F (6.3 years) and SF (3.9 years) (p=0.001).
Severely frail patients had the lowest estimated time before a major complication or reoperation. Frail patients had the best maintenance of ODI score between 1 and 2 years. Severe frailty may limit improvement, and improving to a lower ODI score is more difficult to maintain over the course of a year.
This abstract does not discuss or include any applicable devices or drugs.
Paediatric tonsillectomy is a common ENT operation. The use of day-case surgery is increasing, in order to improve efficiency in healthcare.
A prospective audit spiral was carried out from January ...2006 to December 2008 for all children undergoing day-case tonsillectomy at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
There was a haemorrhage rate of 2.6 per cent over three years. The most common complication was nausea and vomiting, seen in 5.3 per cent of patients.
For a well selected group of children, day-case tonsillectomy in a district hospital setting is a safe and efficient alternative to an in-patient stay. A dedicated day-case team, good anaesthetic technique, adequate post-operative analgesia and on-site paediatric in-patient facilities are essential.
GNE myopathy or hereditary inclusion body myopathy (HIBM) is an ultra‐rare severely disabling autosomal recessive adult onset muscle disease which affects roughly one to three individuals per million ...worldwide. Genetically, HIBM is caused by mutations in the glucosamine (UDP‐N‐acetyl)‐2‐epimerase/N‐acetylmannosamine kinase gene (GNE), resulting in diminished enzyme function and reduced sialic acid biosynthesis. A founder variant GNE p.M712T was first described in patients of Iranian and Middle‐Eastern descent living outside of Iran. Asymptomatic heterozygote or carrier frequency has been reported as high as 1 in 11 within the Persian‐Jewish community residing in Los Angeles, CA. To investigate the prevalence of the p.M712T variant in Iran, we studied 792 samples collected from random individuals in Sangesar (Mahdishahr) in Northern Iran. DNA samples were obtained by buccal swab, and genotyping was performed by melting curve analysis. The results included 31 of 792 (3.91%) heterozygous carriers and 5 (0.31%) homozygotes for GNE p.M712T. All five homozygous individuals, age 30–64 years, were already symptomatic at the start of the study. Our findings suggest that the prevalence of GNE p.M712T is higher in the Sangesar population, comprised mostly of Muslim and Bahai descendants, compared with the general world population. Additional HIBM distribution studies are warranted within various subpopulations of Iran.
► We demonstrated how out-wintering pads (OWPs) management effect effluent quality and ammonia emissions. ► Animal welfare and environmental emissions may be impacted by woodchip size; feeding ...management; area allowance. ► Effluent quality from OWPs was closer to that of dirty water than beef cattle slurry. ► A positive correlation was established between NH3 emission rate and wind speed. ► Average daily live weight gain on OWPs was 1.33kgd−1steer−1.
Out-wintering pads offer a reduced cost system for wintering cattle, minimising damage to pasture, providing animal welfare and production benefits, and generate, potentially, a more manageable effluent and lower ammonia emissions. The objectives of the present study were (i) to contribute to improved understanding of the factors impacting on effluent quality, ammonia emissions and animal welfare via observations on four farm-based out-wintering pads (ComOWPs) in England, Wales and Ireland and more detailed studies undertaken on four experimental OWPs (ExpOWPs) constructed at Rothamsted Research North Wyke, Devon, England and (ii) to corroborate the effluent quality data from both the ComOWPs and the ExpOWPs, with findings in the literature. Woodchip size, feeding management and area allowance were the treatment factors applied on the ExpOWPs. These three factors were randomised across the four ExpOWPs, over four 6–7 week periods. Effluent quality from the ExpOWPs was sampled frequently in a flow proportional way and analysed for total N (TN); total P (TP); total solids (TS); ammonium-N (NH4+-N); nitrate-N (NO3−-N). Beef cattle were periodically weighed for determination of live weight gain (LWG). An approximate nitrogen balance was calculated as a means of understanding its partitioning and fate during and after the ExpOWPs use. Effluent quality from the ComOWPs was sampled frequently, also in a flow-proportional way, and analysed for TN, TP, TS, NH4+-N, NO3−-N, total K and COD. Effluent quality data from the ExpOWPs showed no significant differences (P>0.05) between treatments, with average concentrations of 1095mgl−1, and 806mgl−1, for TN and NH4+-N, respectively. Average effluent concentrations from the ComOWPs were 356mgl−1 TN and 124mgl−1 NH4+-N. Ammonia emissions from the ExpOWPs showed no significant differences (P>0.05) between the treatments, with average mean emission rates of 2.5gm−2d−1 NH3-N, respectively. A positive correlation was established between NH3-N emission rate and wind speed. Emission rates from the ComOWPs ranged from 0.7 to 1.6gm−2d−1 NH3-N. Average daily LWG on the ExpOWPs was 1.33kgsteer−1d−1. The effluent from both the ComOWPs and ExpOWPs were more similar with dirty water and of consistently lower strength than beef cattle slurry, as supported by findings in the literature, and therefore, it is suggested to be subject to the regulatory requirements of dirty water rather than slurry.
The aim of this study was to develop novel preservation systems for fresh pork sausages based on combinations of chitosan (polymeric β-1,4-N-acetylglucosamine) carnocin (a bacteriocin produced by
...Carnobacterium piscicola) and low concentrations of sulphite. Two pilot-scale trials showed that 0.6% chitosan combined with low sulphite (170 ppm) retarded the growth of spoilage organisms more effectively (3–4 log cfu/g) than high levels (340 ppm) of sulphite alone at 4 °C for up to 24 days. Microbial counts for frozen sausages showed that the preservative efficacy of the chitosan/sulphite combination was maintained following frozen storage. Carnocin did not protect sausages from spoilage but in a challenge trial, it reduced the numbers of
Listeria innocua by up to 2.0 log cfu/g in the first 5 days of chill-storage. Sulphite was degraded rapidly within the first 3 days of storage in all the sausages that contained only this preservative but levels decreased less rapidly and persisted for longer in the presence of chitosan. Results of Quantitative Descriptive Analysis using 31 trained panellists reflected the gradual deterioration of all the sausages during storage. The batch containing chitosan and sulphite deteriorated less rapidly and was judged to be more acceptable for a longer period than all the other batches.
Tethering of the spinal cord is thought to increase the chance of neurological injury when scoliosis correction is undertaken. All patients with myelomeningocele (MM) are radiographically tethered, ...and untethering procedures carry significant morbidity risks including worsening neurological function and wound complications. No guidelines exist as regards untethering in patients with MM prior to scoliosis correction surgery. The authors' aim in this study was to evaluate their experience in patients with MM who were not untethered before scoliosis correction.
Seventeen patients with MM were retrospectively identified and 1) had no evidence of a clinically symptomatic tethered cord, 2) had undergone spinal fusion for scoliosis correction, and 3) had not been untethered for at least 1 year prior to surgery. The minimum follow-up after fusion was 2 years. Charts and radiographs were reviewed for neurological or shunt complications in the perioperative period.
The average age of the patients was 12.4 years, and the following neurological levels were affected: T-12 and above, 7 patients; L-1/L-2, 6 patients; L-3, 2 patients; and L-4, 2 patients. All were radiographically tethered as confirmed on MR imaging. Fourteen of the patients (82%) had a ventriculoperitoneal shunt. The mean Cobb angle was corrected from 82 degrees to 35 degrees , for a 57% correction. All patients underwent neuromonitoring of their upper extremities, and some underwent lower extremity monitoring as well. Postoperatively, no patient experienced a new cranial nerve palsy, shunt malfunction, change in urological function, or upper extremity weakness/sensory loss. One patient had transient lower extremity weakness, which returned to baseline within 1 month of surgery.
The study results suggested that spinal cord untethering may be unnecessary in patients with MM who are undergoing scoliosis corrective surgery and do not present with clinical symptoms of a tethered cord, even though tethering is radiographically demonstrated.
Introduction: Warm climates of the past—a lesson for the future? Lunt, D. J.; Elderfield, H.; Pancost, R. ...
Philosophical transactions of the Royal Society of London. Series A: Mathematical, physical, and engineering sciences,
10/2013, Letnik:
371, Številka:
2001
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This Discussion Meeting Issue of the Philosophical Transactions A had its genesis in a Discussion Meeting of the Royal Society which took place on 10-11 October 2011. The Discussion Meeting, entitled ...' Warm climates of the past: a lesson for the future?', brought together 16 eminent international speakers from the field of palaeoclimate, and was attended by over 280 scientists and members of the public. Many of the speakers have contributed to the papers compiled in this Discussion Meeting Issue. The papers summarize the talks at the meeting, and present further or related work. This Discussion Meeting Issue asks to what extent information gleaned from the study of past climates can aid our understanding of future climate change. Climate change is currently an issue at the forefront of environmental science, and also has important sociological and political implications. Most future predictions are carried out by complex numerical models; however, these models cannot be rigorously tested for scenarios outside of the modern, without making use of past climate data. Furthermore, past climate data can inform our understanding of how the Earth system operates, and can provide important contextual information related to environmental change. All past time periods can be useful in this context; here, we focus on past climates that were warmer than the modern climate, as these are likely to be the most similar to the future. This introductory paper is not meant as a comprehensive overview of all work in this field. Instead, it gives an introduction to the important issues therein, using the papers in this Discussion Meeting Issue, and other works from all the Discussion Meeting speakers, as exemplars of the various ways in which past climates can inform projections of future climate. Furthermore, we present new work that uses a palaeo constraint to quantitatively inform projections of future equilibrium ice sheet change.
Out-wintering pads offer a reduced cost system for wintering cattle, minimising damage to pasture, providing animal welfare and production benefits, and generate, potentially, a more manageable ...effluent and lower ammonia emissions. The objectives of the present study were (i) to contribute to improved understanding of the factors impacting on effluent quality, ammonia emissions and animal welfare via observations on four farm-based out-wintering pads (ComOWPs) in England, Wales and Ireland and more detailed studies undertaken on four experimental OWPs (ExpOWPs) constructed at Rothamsted Research North Wyke, Devon, England and (ii) to corroborate the effluent quality data from both the ComOWPs and the ExpOWPs, with findings in the literature. Woodchip size, feeding management and area allowance were the treatment factors applied on the ExpOWPs. These three factors were randomised across the four ExpOWPs, over four 6-7 week periods. Effluent quality from the ExpOWPs was sampled frequently in a flow proportional way and analysed for total N (TN); total P (TP); total solids (TS); ammonium-N (NH super(+) sub(4)-N); nitrate-N (NO super(-) sub(3)-N). Beef cattle were periodically weighed for determination of live weight gain (LWG). An approximate nitrogen balance was calculated as a means of understanding its partitioning and fate during and after the ExpOWPs use. Effluent quality from the ComOWPs was sampled frequently, also in a flow-proportional way, and analysed for TN, TP, TS, NH super(+) sub(4)-N, NO super(-) sub(3)-N, total K and COD. Effluent quality data from the ExpOWPs showed no significant differences (P>0.05) between treatments, with average concentrations of 1095 mg l super(-1), and 806 mg l super(-1), for TN and NH super(+) sub(4)-N, respectively. Average effluent concentrations from the ComOWPs were 356 mg l super(-1) TN and 124 mg l super(-1) NH super(+) sub(4)-N. Ammonia emissions from the ExpOWPs showed no significant differences (P>0.05) between the treatments, with average mean emission rates of 2.5 g m super(-2) d super(-1) NH sub(3)-N, respectively. A positive correlation was established between NH sub(3)-N emission rate and wind speed. Emission rates from the ComOWPs ranged from 0.7 to 1.6 g m super(-2) d super(-1) NH sub(3)-N. Average daily LWG on the ExpOWPs was 1.33 kg steer super(-1) d super(-1). The effluent from both the ComOWPs and ExpOWPs were more similar with dirty water and of consistently lower strength than beef cattle slurry, as supported by findings in the literature, and therefore, it is suggested to be subject to the regulatory requirements of dirty water rather than slurry.
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