Differential dependency of unmyelinated and A delta epidermal and upper dermal innervation on neurotrophins, trk receptors, and p75LNGFR

This study investigates discrepancy and congruence between doctors and patients in their beliefs about the need for medical treatment. One hundred seventy-six outpatients and 337 university students rated each of a set of 35 symptoms on the urgency with which they would seek medical advice were they experiencing that symptom. Sixty-six general practitioners rated the urgency with which a person experiencing that symptom should seek medical advice. These symptoms were classified as relatively serious or nonserious on the basis of ratings by a separate set of doctors. General practitioners perceived a greater overall need for treatment than did patients, but this difference was greater for nonserious than for serious symptoms. In fact patients perceived treatment to be more urgent for three serious symptoms, each potentially indicative of cancer. The observed pattern of doctor-patient discrepancies can be explained in terms of the availability heuristic. The role of this heuristic in the cognitive dynamics of doctor-patient relationships merits future attention.     

Effect of dietary stress on fecal shedding of Escherichia coli O157:H7 in calves

Two groups of calves were subjected to dietary stress by withholding of food beginning 1 or 14 days after inoculation with 10(10) CFU of Escherichia coli O157:H7. Following treatment, neither group had a significant increase in fecal shedding of E. coli O157:H7. A third group of calves had food withheld for 48 h prior to inoculation with 10(7) CFU of E. coli O157:H7. These calves were more susceptible to infection and shed significantly more E. coli O157:H7 organisms than calves maintained on a normal diet.     

Laparoscopic repair of recurrent ventral hernias

Break down after repair of recurrent ventral hernias can exceed 50 per cent. Laparoscopic techniques offer an alternative. This study evaluated the efficacy of the laparoscopic approach for recurrent ventral hernias. A retrospective review on all patients with a recurrent ventral hernia who underwent laparoscopic repair at our institution from August 1995 to June 1997 was performed. Demographic, operative, postoperative, and follow-up data were collected. Thirty-one patients underwent an attempted laparoscopic ventral hernia repair. Sixteen were for recurrent hernias; 15 were successfully repaired laparoscopically. The patients were typically obese (mean body mass index, 30 kg/m2), had an average of 2.4 previous open repairs (range, 1-7), and six patients had previously placed intra-abdominal mesh. An average of 3.5 (range, 1-16) defects were found per patient with a mean total hernia size of 130 cm2 (6-480 cm2). In all cases, expanded polytetrafluoroethylene mesh (average, 299 cm2) was secured with transabdominal sutures. Postoperatively patients required an average of 19 mg of narcotics (MSO4 equivalent). Bowel function returned in 1.7 days. Length of stay averaged 2.0 days (1-4 days). There were two complications: cellulitis, which resolved with antibiotics, and skin break-down, which required mesh removal. With follow-up averaging 18 months (7-29 months), there is one recurrence; the case in which the mesh was removed. Laparoscopic repair of recurrent ventral hernia seems promising. Decreased hospital stays, postoperative pain, wound complications, and a low rate of recurrence are benefits of this technique.     

Application of land use regression to estimate long-term concentrations of traffic-related nitrogen oxides and fine particulate matter

Land use regression (LUR) is a promising technique for predicting ambient air pollutant concentrations at high spatial resolution. We expand on previous work by modeling oxides of nitrogen and fine particulate matter in Vancouver, Canada, using two measures of traffic. Systematic review of historical data identified optimal sampling periods for NO and N02. Integrated 14-day mean concentrations were measured with passive samplers at 116 sites in the spring and fall of 2003. Study estimates for annual mean NO and NO2 ranged from 5.4-98.7 and 4.8-28.0 ppb, respectively. Regulatory measurements ranged from 4.8-29.7 and 9.0-24.1 ppb and exhibited less spatial variability. Measurements of particle mass concentration (PM2.5) and light absorbance (ABS) were made at a subset of 25 sites during another campaign. Fifty-five variables describing each sampling site were generated in a Geographic Information System (GIS) and linear regression models for NO, NO2, PM2.5, and ABS were built with the most predictive covariates. Adjusted R(2) values ranged from 0.39 to 0.62 and were similar across traffic metrics. Resulting maps show the distribution of NO to be more heterogeneous than that of NO2, supporting the usefulness of this approach for assessing spatial patterns of traffic-related pollution.