The −675 4G/5G Polymorphism in Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor-1 Gene Is Associated with Risk of Asthma: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND: A number of studies assessed the association of -675 4G/5G polymorphism in the promoter region of plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 gene with asthma in different populations. However, most studies reported inconclusive results. A meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the association between polymorphism in the PAI-1 gene and asthma susceptibility. METHODS: Databases including Pubmed, EMBASE, HuGE Literature Finder, Wanfang Database, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) and Weipu Database were searched to find relevant studies. Odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to assess the strength of association in the dominant model, recessive model, codominant model, and additive model. RESULTS: Eight studies involving 1817 cases and 2327 controls were included. Overall, significant association between 4G/5G polymorphism and asthma susceptibility was observed for 4G4G+4G5G vs. 5G5G (OR = 1.56, 95% CI 1.12-2.18, P = 0.008), 4G/4G vs. 4G/5G+5G/5G (OR = 1.38, 95% CI 1.06-1.80, P = 0.02), 4G/4G vs. 5G/5G (OR = 1.80, 95% CI 1.17-2.76, P = 0.007), 4G/5G vs. 5G/5G (OR = 1.40, 95% CI 1.07-1.84, P = 0.02), and 4G vs. 5G (OR = 1.35, 95% CI 1.08-1.68, P = 0.008). CONCLUSIONS: This meta-analysis suggested that the -675 4G/5G polymorphism of PAI-1 gene was a risk factor of asthma

Variation in Structure and Process of Care in Traumatic Brain Injury: Provider Profiles of European Neurotrauma Centers Participating in the CENTER-TBI Study.

INTRODUCTION: The strength of evidence underpinning care and treatment recommendations in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is low. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) has been proposed as a framework to provide evidence for optimal care for TBI patients. The first step in CER is to map the existing variation. The aim of current study is to quantify variation in general structural and process characteristics among centers participating in the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. METHODS: We designed a set of 11 provider profiling questionnaires with 321 questions about various aspects of TBI care, chosen based on literature and expert opinion. After pilot testing, questionnaires were disseminated to 71 centers from 20 countries participating in the CENTER-TBI study. Reliability of questionnaires was estimated by calculating a concordance rate among 5% duplicate questions. RESULTS: All 71 centers completed the questionnaires. Median concordance rate among duplicate questions was 0.85. The majority of centers were academic hospitals (n = 65, 92%), designated as a level I trauma center (n = 48, 68%) and situated in an urban location (n = 70, 99%). The availability of facilities for neuro-trauma care varied across centers; e.g. 40 (57%) had a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit (ICU), 36 (51%) had an in-hospital rehabilitation unit and the organization of the ICU was closed in 64% (n = 45) of the centers. In addition, we found wide variation in processes of care, such as the ICU admission policy and intracranial pressure monitoring policy among centers. CONCLUSION: Even among high-volume, specialized neurotrauma centers there is substantial variation in structures and processes of TBI care. This variation provides an opportunity to study effectiveness of specific aspects of TBI care and to identify best practices with CER approaches

Variation in structure and process of care in traumatic brain injury: Provider profiles of European Neurotrauma Centers participating in the CENTER-TBI study

Introduction: The strength of evidence underpinning care and treatment recommendations in traumatic brain injury (TBI) is low. Comparative effectiveness research (CER) has been proposed as a framework to provide evidence for optimal care for TBI patients. The first step in CER is to map the existing variation. The aim of current study is to quantify variation in general structural and process characteristics among centers participating in the Collaborative European NeuroTrauma Effectiveness Research in Traumatic Brain Injury (CENTER-TBI) study. Methods: We designed a set of 11 provider profiling questionnaires with 321 questions about various aspects of TBI care, chosen based on literature and expert opinion. After pilot testing, questionnaires were disseminated to 71 centers from 20 countries participating in the CENTER-TBI study. Reliability of questionnaires was estimated by calculating a concordance rate among 5% duplicate questions.Results: All 71 centers completed the questionnaires. Median concordance rate among duplicate questions was 0.85. The majority of centers were academic hospitals (n = 65, 92%), designated as a level I trauma center (n = 48, 68%) and situated in an urban location (n = 70, 99%). The availability of facilities for neuro-trauma care varied across centers; e.g. 40 (57%) had a dedicated neuro-intensive care unit (ICU), 36 (51%) had an in-hospital rehabilitation unit and the organization of the ICU was closed in 64% (n = 45) of the centers. In addition, we found wide variation in processes of care, such as the ICU admission policy and intracranial pressure monitoring policy among centers. Conclusion: Even among high-volume, specialized neurotrauma centers there is substantial variation in structures and processes of TBI care. This variation provides an opportunity to study effectiveness of specific aspects of TBI care and to identify best practices with CER approaches.</p

La conservazione preventiva del patrimonio librario come possibile alternativa al restauro tradizionale

The present paper focuses on the close relation between library collections and their preservation environment, aiming, in particular, at highlighting the importance of promoting and sustaining the monitoring. The paper proposes some simple and ready-to-use technologies – smart monitoring – to prevent future damages

Digital configurator of factories

This article introduces a new approach to the digital prototyping of factories. The problem we are describing here refers to a complex and lengthy decision-making process regarding the construction of a new factory or production. This specific area of research has been developed through many years, which is pointed in the first part of article. The solution we have offered brings a new methodology to the prototyping of factories. This solution helps to shorten the whole process of designing, building, operating and optimizing the production business. The most remarkable result of methodology application is digital configurator of factories. This configurator serves as a tool for designing and comprehensive investment assessment of the planned factories. In our view, these results represent an initial step towards managing the whole process of building a new factory, which will minimize both time and resource requirements

Er: YAG Laser Contact and Non-Contact Delivery Systems Cavity Preparation and Sonic-Activated Bulk Composite Restoration

Introduction: The comparison of tissue quality and its restoration after contact, and non-contact Er: YAG (2940 nm) laser radiation ablation was evaluated. Methods: Laser setting for contact ablation was 250 mJ/pulse, pulse repetition rate 15 Hz, average power 3.75 W. For non-contact ablation these values were: 600 mJ/pulse, 6 Hz, 3.6 W. Structure of enamel and dentin after laser ablation was analyzed in scanning electron microscope. All cavities were filled by sonic-activated composite resin. Chemical and mechanical bond was observed in scanning electron microscope.Microleakage was assessed quantitatively by the degree of methylene blue dye penetration. Fischer exact test (p &lt; 0.05) was used for statistical evaluation. Results: Contact and non-contact laser treatments prepared similar cavities (5167.31 μm versus 5356.31 μm). Defocusing of non-contact therapy has direct influence on the dye penetration microleakage presence (481.19 μm versus 611.94 μm) but this increase was not statistical significant. Conclusion: Cavity prepared by contact mode with sonic-activated composite filling protects microleakage formation

Conservative Treatment of Temporomandibular Joint Disorders

Introduction: The etiology of temporomandibular joint disorders is multifactorial. The most frequent symptoms are pain and limited mouth opening. Nearly half of the population has difficulties with temporomandibular joint, patients suffer from common symptoms as for example pain, but only 15 per cent of these patients seek medical help. Accurate measurement, early diagnosis and classification of disorders of TMK as well as evaluation of available treatment methods, can significantly increase the effect of the therapy. Methods: The set of 115 patients was created during the study; all of them underwent initial preoperative examination consisting of history, clinical examination, radiographic examination and analysis of joint tracks and cephalometric analysis. Based on the results of the examinations, patients were divided into 7 groups according to the therapy used. The basic therapy was the conservative one. When the conservative treatment was unsuccessful a surgical therapy was used. The evaluation focused on these two criteria mainly the presence of pain before and after the therapy and the mouth opening before and after therapy. Results: The results we obtained showed that conservative therapy was successful in 94%. Only 6% of patients were indicated for surgical treatment. Conclusion: It is known that the TMD are caused by number of factors that could be summarized under the term civilization illness. Successful treatment is based on early diagnosis, correct classification and suitable treatment

Detection of Antioxidative Activity of Plant Extracts at the DNA-Modified Screen-Printed Electrode

A simple procedure for the voltammetric detection of antioxidative activity of plant extracts based on the protection from DNA damage at the electrode surface is reported. A disposable electrochemical DNA biosensor fabricated as a carbon-based screen-printed electrode modified by a surface layer of the calf thymus double stranded (ds) DNA was used as a working electrode in combination with a silver/silver chloride reference electrode and a separate platinum auxiliary electrode. The [Co(phen)3]3+ ion served as the dsDNA redox marker and the [Fe(EDTA)]- complex with hydrogen peroxide under the electrochemical reduction of the iron atom were used as the DNA cleavage mixture. A remarkable antioxidative activity of phenolic antioxidants such as rosmarinic and caffeic acids as standards and the extracts of lemon balm, oregano, thyme and agrimony was found which is quite in agreement with an antiradical activity determined spectrophotometrically using 2,2’-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical

Voltammetric Detection of Antioxidative Properties of Flavonoids Using Electrically Heated DNA Modified Carbon Paste Electrode

A simple electrochemical sensor consisting of electrically heated carbon paste electrode with the surface modified by dsDNA is used to characterize voltammetric behaviour and antioxidative activity of four selected flavonoids. Quercetin, rutin, catechin and epigallocatechin gallate accumulate within the DNA layer. A positive effect of the electrode temperature within the range of 20 to 38 ºC on the detection of a deep DNA degradation by a copper(II)/H2O2/ascorbic acid cleavage mixture as well as an antioxidative effect of flavonoids was evaluated