Justice Holmes\u27s Philosophy

In my biography of Justice Holmes it seemed proper to let him have his effects. But explanation also has its part to play, if only below decks; so while Holmes lightly touches the helm, we may now trudge down to the engine room and have a look at the machinery

Factors perceived to influence risky sexual behaviours among university students in the United Kingdom: a qualitative telephone interview study

Background In the United Kingdom people under the age of 25 years are at increased risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections. Most university students belong to this age group but little is known about their sexual behaviours. The aim of the study was to explore university students’ perspectives of factors and mechanisms that influence risky sexual behaviours among university students in the United Kingdom. Methods All students at a university in a northern city of England were invited via email to participate in qualitative telephone interviews. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim. Framework analytical approach was used. Results Twenty interviews were conducted with a diverse sample of students. The social context of university lifestyle was perceived to affect risky sex through high levels of alcohol consumption, increased sexual opportunities, liberation from moral surveillance and expectations of the stereotypical highly sexually active student. Individual and cultural differences were also perceived to account for some patterns of risky sex with older students, overseas students and religious students perceived to be less likely to engage in risky sex due to academic priorities and a tendency to be more likely to adhere to moral values. Risk denial was also a key factor that led students to engage in risky sex. Poor access to sexual health services including inconvenient opening times, lack of confidentiality and stigma were perceived to contribute to the limited use of sexually transmitted infections testing and contraceptive services. Conclusions Lifestyle, individual and structural factors seem to play an important role in influencing the risky sexual behaviours of university students. Therefore preventive interventions that focus on these factors could be very useful in this sub-population of young people. This study provides useful baseline information that helps us understand how and why some United Kingdom university students engage in risky sexual behaviours that puts them at risk of contracting sexually transmitted infections

Subtle genetic changes enhance virulence of methicillin resistant and sensitive Staphylococcus aureus

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Community acquired (CA) methicillin-resistant <it>Staphylococcus aureus </it>(MRSA) increasingly causes disease worldwide. USA300 has emerged as the predominant clone causing superficial and invasive infections in children and adults in the USA. Epidemiological studies suggest that USA300 is more virulent than other CA-MRSA. The genetic determinants that render virulence and dominance to USA300 remain unclear.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We sequenced the genomes of two pediatric USA300 isolates: one CA-MRSA and one CA-methicillin susceptible (MSSA), isolated at Texas Children's Hospital in Houston. DNA sequencing was performed by Sanger dideoxy whole genome shotgun (WGS) and 454 Life Sciences pyrosequencing strategies. The sequence of the USA300 MRSA strain was rigorously annotated. In USA300-MRSA 2658 chromosomal open reading frames were predicted and 3.1 and 27 kilobase (kb) plasmids were identified. USA300-MSSA contained a 20 kb plasmid with some homology to the 27 kb plasmid found in USA300-MRSA. Two regions found in US300-MRSA were absent in USA300-MSSA. One of these carried the arginine deiminase operon that appears to have been acquired from <it>S. epidermidis</it>. The USA300 sequence was aligned with other sequenced <it>S. aureus </it>genomes and regions unique to USA300 MRSA were identified.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>USA300-MRSA is highly similar to other MRSA strains based on whole genome alignments and gene content, indicating that the differences in pathogenesis are due to subtle changes rather than to large-scale acquisition of virulence factor genes. The USA300 Houston isolate differs from another sequenced USA300 strain isolate, derived from a patient in San Francisco, in plasmid content and a number of sequence polymorphisms. Such differences will provide new insights into the evolution of pathogens.</p

The role of intimal hyperplasia in arterial spasm.

It has been postulated that even moderate spasm in an artery with intimal hyperplasia can produce organ hypoxia because there is an excessive reduction in the diameter of the lumen. To test this hypothesis we created intimal hyperplasia in one femoral artery in five pigs and then induced arterial spasm by administering ergonovine maleate. Arterial spasm did not produce a greater reduction in the luminal diameter of the femoral artery with intimal hyperplasia than it did in the normal femoral artery. Until further evidence appears this hypothesis must be viewed with caution