The new transplantation law. What must hospital physicians observe?

The molecular revolution is beginning to have an impact on all aspects of tuberculosis. Work in diagnostics is expected to progress in maximizing genetic testing of mycobacteria. Drug development will benefit from recently acquired knowledge on molecular mechanisms of drug action. The availability of the complete genome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis, and better tools for genetic work with mycobacteria, will promote the development of vaccine candidates. Our work has contributed to the definition of the mechanisms of resistance to rifampin, fluoroquinolones, and ethambutol, and, using molecular analysis, to a better understanding of the epidemiology of mycobacterial infections. This overview of the direction of tuberculosis research today illustrates the impact of novel scientific approaches on the investigation of old problems.     

The proposed Stark II regulations. What physicians should know

Although the proposed regulations do not yet have the force and effect of law and HCFA is still seeking input in a variety of substantive areas, the regulations as proposed reflect HCFA's current view of enforcement of Stark II. Although simply complying with the statutory language and the Stark I regulations may be enough to avoid scrutiny until the proposed regulations are promulgated in final form, this approach may set physicians and physician groups up for significant disruption in their relationships in the future, particularly when proposed regulations have called certain practices into question. Clearly, every relationship between a physician (and his or her physician group) and any entity that provides DHS should be reexamined in light of the proposed regulations. In addition, arrangements under negotiation should be structured with the proposed new requirements in mind.     

What you should know about dental practice management companies

The unfavourable tuberculosis situation in the corrective labour facilities affects the main rates of tuberculosis in the region. Presently, the total registered cases of tuberculosis among prisoners are 36.7 times as high as those in the age-matched general population of the Sverdlovsk Region. The rates of relapses, incidence, death due to tuberculosis show 72.0-, 36.1-, and 10.4-fold increases, respectively. Almost every 10 persons from the labour corrective facilities suffer from active tuberculosis. In the past decade, the growth rates of main tuberculosis parameters in the corrective labour facilities were much higher (total tuberculosis morbidity by 2.1 times, relapses by 2.1 times, general morbidity by 1.7 times, and total tuberculosis mortality by 2.8 times) than those in the region's general population. Extrapulmonary tuberculosis was not virtually detected in the labour corrective facilities) due to the lack of special diagnostic methods.     

What journals for the physicians

An extragenital metastatic seminoma in a patient with Klinefelter's syndrome is described. The increased incidence of many types of malignancies in patients with this chromosomal abnormality and the increased susceptibility of XXY cells to transformation by oncogenic SV-40 virus are discussed. A relationship is suggested circumstantially by these observations.     

Genesis of residency programs in dental public health: reflections of the first dental public health resident?

BACKGROUND: Combinatorial methods based on binary patterning of polar and nonpolar residues have been used to generate large libraries of de novo alpha-helical proteins. Within such libraries, the ability to find structures that resemble natural proteins requires a rapid method to sort through large collections of proteins and detect those possessing 'native-like' features. The current paper presents such a method and applies it to an initial collection of de novo proteins. RESULTS: We present a method to identify proteins with native-like properties from libraries of de novo sequences expressed in vivo. A novel 'rapid prep' freeze/thaw procedure was used to prepare samples; chromatographic purification was not required. The semi-crude samples were analyzed for native-like features by one-dimensional 1H NMR spectroscopy. Using this method, we demonstrate that native-like features can readily be observed for several proteins among a collection of sequences designed by binary patterning of polar and nonpolar amino acids. CONCLUSIONS: Native-like properties can be detected using a method that requires neither isotopic enrichment nor chromatographic purification. The method is inexpensive, rapid, and suitable for parallel processing. It can therefore be employed to screen for native-like properties among large collections of de novo sequences. Using this method, we demonstrate that although the binary code strategy does not explicitly design tertiary packing, it can nonetheless generate proteins that possess native-like properties. The use of combinatorial methods to produce large collections of proteins coupled with the availability of a rapid assay for detecting native-like properties will facilitate the design and isolation of novel proteins with desirable properties.     

General physicians at the beginning of health services transformation

The authors assessed in 68 general practitioners by means of questionnaires selected data on the position in medical practice, satisfaction with it, on the extent, forms and opportunities of further training. All respondents systematically extended their education and training, 97% were keen to master and use new procedures. 37% were satisfied with their practice. They worked on average 50 hours per week and examined on average 236 patients per week in their surgery. On average they referred 11% of their patients to a specialist. Health authorities should participate more in the solution of some problems of general practitioners.     

The psychology of women: What should the field be called?

Discusses the controversy over what the field concerning psychological research of women should be called. The name controversy reflects the disagreement about what the field should concern and what perspective it should have. Developmental nicknames of the field are discussed. It is suggested that the field will and should continue to change its focus and perspective. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Knowledge of good clinical practice among Danish physicians. A questionnaire study among hospital-employed physicians in the Copenhagen area

Differences in cord serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) composition between male and female neonates with normal or high (> or = 100 mg/dl or > or = 2.59 mmol/l) serum cholesterol levels were studied in 548 full-term newborn infants of the Toledo Study (Spain), where the absence of known perinatal factors that would alter lipid levels in cord blood was confirmed. The percentage of females with a high serum total cholesterol (TC) level was higher (p < 0.02) than that of males. ANOVA two-way analysis shows significant interaction of gender and cholesterol level upon LDL-cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL-cholesterol/Apoprotein (Apo) B ratio. However, Apo B was higher in those neonates, both male and female, with high cholesterol levels. The LDL fraction carried about 55% of TC in females with high TC levels (HF), whereas it transported just 40% in males with high TC levels (HM). LDL appeared more enriched in cholesterol than in Apo B in HF than in HM (p < 0.01). An increased level of small LDL particles should be associated with the higher triglyceride level found amongst HM. Results in LDL composition suggest that metabolic gender-related differences in infants with normal or high TC are presented at birth.     

Impact of minority physicians on health care

BACKGROUND: The fact that few doctors have their own GP may help explain doctors' poor health outcomes. Barriers to the doctor as patient role may arise from problematic perceptions of the 'doctor' subject position and from its subjugation of 'other-than-doctor' positions. Medical culture appears to foster and construct inappropriate health seeking behaviour of doctors. OBJECTIVE: A behaviour model is proposed--delusion, denial and delay; self-investigation, self-diagnosis, self-treatment and self-referral. Application of a behaviour change model could facilitate the doctor as patient role. DISCUSSION: Literary theory and sociology critiques may help peel off the social construction of 'doctor'. The realisation of such myths may allow access to medical care enjoyed by the general community.     

What attitude should be adopted in congenital heart disease in adults?

Two types of congenital heart disease are observed in adults: those discovered during childhood which may or may not have been operated, depending on their degree of severity and the surgical possibilities; those discovered during adulthood, which represent approximately 500 new cases per year and which raise particular problems: the extensive assessment which must be performed, the therapeutic solution adapted to particular situations, contraception, pregnancy, prophylaxis of endocarditis, sports or work. It is often difficult to decide to operate. Interventional catheterization represents an elegant solution in congenital heart disease in adults.