German evidence-based guidelines for the treatment of Psoriasis vulgaris (short version)

Psoriasis vulgaris is a common and chronic inflammatory skin disease which has the potential to significantly reduce the quality of life in severely affected patients. The incidence of psoriasis in Western industrialized countries ranges from 1.5 to 2%. Despite the large variety of treatment options available, patient surveys have revealed insufficient satisfaction with the efficacy of available treatments and a high rate of medication non-compliance. To optimize the treatment of psoriasis in Germany, the Deutsche Dermatologische Gesellschaft and the Berufsverband Deutscher Dermatologen (BVDD) have initiated a project to develop evidence-based guidelines for the management of psoriasis. The guidelines focus on induction therapy in cases of mild, moderate, and severe plaque-type psoriasis in adults. The short version of the guidelines reported here consist of a series of therapeutic recommendations that are based on a systematic literature search and subsequent discussion with experts in the field; they have been approved by a team of dermatology experts. In addition to the therapeutic recommendations provided in this short version, the full version of the guidelines includes information on contraindications, adverse events, drug interactions, practicality, and costs as well as detailed information on how best to apply the treatments described (for full version, please see Nast et al., JDDG, Suppl 2:S1–S126, 2006; or http://www.psoriasis-leitlinie.de)

Estimating the Effect of Leisure on Judicial Performance

Past research suggests that natural preferences for leisure influence the ways in which federal judges carry out their work. We consider the extent to which incentives for leisure reduce the speed with which judges work and the quality of their output. We take advantage of a natural experiment caused by an annual sporting event that creates differential distractions across judges. Using a difference-in-differences design, among federal courts of appeals judges we show that a judge’s alma mater’s participation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Tournament both slows the rate at which opinions are drafted and ultimately undermines the opinions’ quality, even accounting for the additional time judges spend writing them. The findings suggest that incentives for leisure influence important normative concerns for swift and high-quality justice

Estimating the Effect of Leisure on Judicial Performance

Past research suggests that natural preferences for leisure influence the ways in which federal judges carry out their work. We consider the extent to which incentives for leisure reduce the speed with which judges work and the quality of their output. We take advantage of a natural experiment caused by an annual sporting event that creates differential distractions across judges. Using a difference-in-differences design, among federal courts of appeals judges we show that a judge’s alma mater’s participation in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Tournament both slows the rate at which opinions are drafted and ultimately undermines the opinions’ quality, even accounting for the additional time judges spend writing them. The findings suggest that incentives for leisure influence important normative concerns for swift and high-quality justice

PEG-covered ultra-small Gd\u2082O\u2083 nanoparticles for positive contrast at 1.5T MR clinical scanning

The size distribution and magnetic properties of ultra-small gadolinium oxide crystals (US-Gd\u2082O\u2083) were studied, and the impact of polyethylene glycol capping on the relaxivity constants (r\u2081, r\u2082) and signal intensity with this contrast agent was investigated. Size distribution and magnetic properties of US-Gd\u2082O\u2083 nanocrystals were measured with a TEM and PPMS magnetometer. For relaxation studies, diethylene glycol (DEG)-capped US-Gd\u2082O\u2083 nanocrystals were reacted with PEG-silane (MW 5000). Suspensions were adequately dialyzed in water to eliminate traces of Gd\ub3\u207a and surfactants. The particle hydrodynamic radius was measured with dynamic light scattering (DLS) and the proton relaxation times were measured with a 1.5 T MRI scanner. Parallel studies were performed with DEG\u2013Gd\u2082O\u2083 and PEG-silane\u2013SPGO (Gd\u2082O\u2083, < 40 nm diameter). The small and narrow size distribution of US-Gd\u2082O\u2083 was confirmed with TEM ( 3c3 nm) and DLS. PEG-silane\u2013US-Gd\u2082O\u2083 relaxation parameters were twice as high as for Gd\u2013DTPA and the r\u2082/r\u2081 ratio was 1.4. PEG-silane\u2013SPGO gave low r\u2081 relaxivities and high r\u2082/r\u2081 ratios, less compatible with positive contrast agent requirements. Higher r\u2081 were obtained with PEG-silane in comparison to DEG\u2013Gd\u2082O\u2083. Treatment of DEG\u2013US-Gd\u2082O\u2083 with PEG-silane provides enhanced relaxivity while preventing aggregation of the oxide cores. This study confirms that PEG-covered Gd\u2082O\u2083 nanoparticles can be used for positively contrasted MR applications requiring stability, biocompatible coatings and nanocrystal functionalization.Peer reviewed: YesNRC publication: Ye