200 research outputs found
Advances in the management of gout: Critical appraisal of febuxostat in the control of hyperuricemia
Gout recently passed rheumatoid arthritis to become the most common inflammatory arthritis in the United States (US). However, epidemiologic studies indicate that the quality of gout management is suboptimal owing to both patient and physician issues. Only three options for urate-lowering therapy are currently available in the US: allopurinol, probenecid, and recently, febuxostat. Probenecid is generally safe except for the occurrence of urolithiasis, but is only effective for the subset of patients with better kidney function. Allopurinol use is limited due to its side effects, potential toxicity of uncertain magnitude in patients with renal disease, and failure to achieve targeted serum urate levels. In part this failure may be due to the necessity for it to be titrated for optimal therapeutic effect. Febuxostat is a new medication that may offer several advantages and can be given as an alternative to allopurinol. We review the basic biology and clinical performance of febuxostat, and consider the potential utility of this agent in comparison to the older, better-established gout therapeutics
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The Apollo Virtual Microscope Collection: Lunar Mineralogy and Petrology of Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15 and 16 Rocks
We report on the new Virtual Microscopes on Apollo 16 lunar samples in our Apollo Virtual Microscope collection
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Pyrolysis-GC×GC-TOFMS to characterize carbonaceous chondrites
Using pyrolysis-GCxGC-TOFMS to analyze organic carbon in carbonaceous chondrites gives a massive increase in both sensitivity and structural information from samples when compared to traditional Py-GC-MS
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STONE 6: Artificial Sedimentary Meteorites in Space
The STONE 6 experiment demonstrated the survivability of carbonaceous and microfossiliferous martian analogue sediments during atmospheric re-entry. Doped endoliths died but their carbonised cells remained
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The Beagle 2 microscope
The Beagle 2 microscope provides optical images of the Martian surface at a resolution 5x higher than any other experiment currently planned. By using a novel illumination system it images in three colors and can also detect fluorescent materials
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The Beagle 2 optical microscope
Introduction to the Beagle2 optical microscope
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Beagle 2: Mission to Mars — current status
Beagle 2, developed in the UK, was launched on June 2, 2003. It landed on Mars on December 25th, 2003 in Isidis Planitia, a large sedimentary basin. To date, the team is awaiting signals from the Beagle 2 lander. Current status of the mission will be reported
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Ptolemy: operations to date as part of the Rosetta mission and plans for the comet encounter
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A longitudinal investigation of prosodic sensitivity and emergent literacy
Prosodic sensitivity – the rhythmic patterning of speech – is theorized to influence reading and spelling via vocabulary knowledge, phonological, and morphological awareness. Previously this conceptual model has been evidenced with children who can already read, however as orthographic knowledge can be used to complete phonological awareness tasks it cannot be said definitively that it is prosodic sensitivity influencing reading and spelling and not the reverse. Therefore, the present study sought to test the model in a longitudinal study conducted at the outset of reading development. A sample of 4- to 5-year-old English-speaking children (N = 101) were assessed for their prosodic sensitivity, vocabulary knowledge, phonological and morphological awareness, and one year later (N = 93) for their word reading and spelling. A path analysis revealed that the conceptual model provides an adequate fit to our sample data: prosodic sensitivity in pre-reading children predicts reading and spelling indirectly through other emergent literacy skills. The implications of these findings are discussed in relation to models of literacy development and literacy instruction
Evaluating sustainability: a retrospective cohort analysis of the Oxfordshire therapeutic community
Background: Therapeutic communities (TCs) could reduce the health care use of people with personality disorder
(Davies S, Campling P and Ryan K, Psychiatrist 23:79–83, 1999; Barr W, Kirkcaldy A, Horne A, Hodge S, Hellin K and
Göpfert M, J Ment Health 19:412–421, 2010) and in turn reduce the financial and environmental costs of services.
Our hypothesis is that 3 years following entry to a TC service, patients have reduced subsequent health care use
and associated reductions in financial costs and carbon footprint.
Methods: A retrospective 4-year cohort study examined changes in health care use following entry to the
Oxfordshire TC service. Comparative analysis was undertaken on a treated (n = 40) and a control group (referred but
who declined treatment; n = 45). Financial costs and carbon footprint of health care use were calculated using
national tariffs and standard carbon conversion factors. Mean changes in these outcomes were compared over 1, 2
and 3 years and adjusted for costs and carbon footprints in the year prior to joining the TC service.
Results: Compared to baseline, the group receiving TC care had greater reductions in financial costs and carbon
footprint associated with A&E attendances (p = 0.04) and crisis mental health appointments (p = 0.04) than the
control group. There were significantly greater reductions in carbon footprint for all secondary health care use, both
physical and mental health care, after 3 years (p = 0.04) in the TC group.
Conclusions: TC services may have the potential to reduce the financial cost and carbon footprint of health car
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