Ultrasound assessment of haemoperitoneum in ectopic pregnancy: derivation of a prediction model

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To derive an ultrasound-based prediction model for the quantification of haemoperitoneum in ectopic pregnancy (EP).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Retrospective study of 89 patients operated upon EP between January 1999 and March 2003 in a French Gynaecology and Obstetrics department in a university hospital. Transvaginal sonograms, clinical and biological variables from patients with haemoperitoneum ≥ 300 ml at surgery were compared with those from patients with haemoperitoneum < 300 ml or no haemoperitoneum. Sensitivity, specificity, positive and negative likelihood ratios were calculated for each parameter after appropriate dichotomization. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to select the best combination at predicting haemoperitoneum ≥ 300 ml.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Three parameters predicted haemoperitoneum ≥ 300 ml independently: moderate to severe spontaneous pelvic pain, fluid above the uterine fundus or around the ovary at transvaginal ultrasound, and serum haemoglobin concentration < 10 g/dL. A woman with none of these three criteria would have a probability of 5.3% for haemoperitoneum ≥ 300 ml. When two or more criterias were present, the probability for haemoperitoneum ≥ 300 ml reached 92.6%.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The proposed model accurately predicted significant haemoperitoneum in patients diagnosed to have EP.</p

Methods and pharmaceutical compositions for the cardioprotection

The present invention relates to methods and pharmaceutical compositions for cardioprotection of subjects who experienced a myocardial infarction. In particular, the present invention relates to a ligand of the sonic hedgehog signaling pathway for use in the cardioprotection of a subject who experienced a myocardial infarction

Highly specific and sensitive non-radioactive molecular identification of Phytophthora cinnamomi

In response to the need for a faster, more reliable method for identifying Phytophthora cinnamomi in cork oak soils in Portugal, a simple, fast, sensitive molecular identification method is described. It is based on a colorimetric assay which involves an oligonucleotide capture probe covalently immobilised on microtitration wells, a multi-biotinylated oligonucleotide detection probe and the PCR-amplified target DNA. The target DNA is a 349 bp DNA fragment partially covering the 3'-translated and 3'- untranslated regions of the cinnamomin gene. When the specificity of the PCR reaction was evaluated in vitro using isolates of P. cinnamomi and eight other Phytophthora species, including the related P. cambivora, it was specific to P. cinnamomi. When 30 isolates of P. cinnamomi from oak roots in southern Portugal were assayed, 26 gave a strong positive response. The assay has a sensitivity of about 2±5 genome equivalents of P. cinnamomi. The reason for the negative response of four isolates remains unclear

Some Empirical Criteria for Attributing Creativity to a Computer Program

Peer reviewedPostprin

Attacks by a piercing-sucking insect (Myzus persicae Sultzer) or a chewing insect (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say) on potato plants (Solanum tuberosum L.) induce differential changes in volatile compound release and oxylipin synthesis

Plant defensive strategies bring into play blends of compounds dependent on the type of attacker and coming from different synthesis pathways. Interest in the field is mainly focused on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and jasmonic acid (JA). By contrast, little is known about the oxidized polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), such as PUFA-hydroperoxides, PUFA-hydroxides, or PUFA-ketones. PUFA-hydroperoxides and their derivatives might be involved in stress response and show antimicrobial activities. Hydroperoxides are also precursors of JA and some volatile compounds. In this paper, the differential biochemical response of a plant against insects with distinct feeding behaviours is characterized not only in terms of VOC signature and JA profile but also in terms of their precursors synthesized through the lipoxygenase (LOX)-pathway at the early stage of the plant response. For this purpose, two leading pests of potato with distinct feeding behaviours were used: the Colorado Potato Beetle (Leptinotarsa decemlineata Say), a chewing herbivore, and the Green Peach Aphid (Myzus persicae Sulzer), a piercing-sucking insect. The volatile signatures identified clearly differ in function with the feeding behaviour of the attacker and the aphid, which causes the smaller damages, triggers the emission of a higher number of volatiles. In addition, 9-LOX products, which are usually associated with defence against pathogens, were exclusively activated by aphid attack. Furthermore, a correlation between volatiles and JA accumulation and the evolution of their precursors was determined. Finally, the role of the insect itself on the plant response after insect infestation was highlighted

Using conceptual metaphor and functional grammar to explore how language used in physics affects student learning

This paper introduces a theory about the role of language in learning physics. The theory is developed in the context of physics students' and physicists' talking and writing about the subject of quantum mechanics. We found that physicists' language encodes different varieties of analogical models through the use of grammar and conceptual metaphor. We hypothesize that students categorize concepts into ontological categories based on the grammatical structure of physicists' language. We also hypothesize that students over-extend and misapply conceptual metaphors in physicists' speech and writing. Using our theory, we will show how, in some cases, we can explain student difficulties in quantum mechanics as difficulties with language.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. ST:PE

Highlights of recent progress in plant lipid research

Raw fossil material reserves are not inexhaustible and as prices continue to raise it is necessary to find new sources of alternative and renewable energy. Oils from oleaginous field crops (sunflower and rape) with properties close to those of fossil fuel could constitute an alternative source of energy for the production of raw materials. This is the context in which the 18th International Symposium on Plant lipids (ISPL) was held in Bordeaux from 20th to 25th July 2008 at “La Cité Mondiale”. The 18th ISPL gathered 270 researchers from 33 countries. Sixty nine oral communications and 136 posters were presented during the 12 sessions of the Symposium. The sessions have covered all the different aspects of the Plant Lipid field including: Surface lipids: suberin, cutin and waxes, Fatty acids, Glycerolipids, Plant lipids as renewable sources of energy, Seed oils and bioengineering of metabolic pathways, Lipid catabolism, Models for lipid studies: lower plants, micro-organisms and others, Modifications of proteins by lipids, Sphingolipids, sterols and isoprenoids, Lipid signaling and plant stress responses, Lipid trafficking and membrane dynamics, New methods and technologies: functional lipidomics, fluxome, modelling