121 research outputs found
Binary and Millisecond Pulsars at the New Millennium
We review the properties and applications of binary and millisecond pulsars.
Our knowledge of these exciting objects has greatly increased in recent years,
mainly due to successful surveys which have brought the known pulsar population
to over 1300. There are now 56 binary and millisecond pulsars in the Galactic
disk and a further 47 in globular clusters. This review is concerned primarily
with the results and spin-offs from these surveys which are of particular
interest to the relativity community.Comment: 59 pages, 26 figures, 5 tables. Accepted for publication in Living
Reviews in Relativity (http://www.livingreviews.org
Knowledge of human papillomavirus infection and its prevention among adolescents and parents in the greater Milan area, Northern Italy
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to be widely accepted by users, the implementation of a new health intervention requires them to be adequately informed about its clinical importance, benefits and risks. The aim of this study was to provide data on the knowledge of Italian adolescents and parents concerning human papillomavirus (HPV) infection and its prevention in order to allow the development of adequate training programmes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Between 2 May and 15 June 2008, we made a cross-sectional survey of 863 high school students and 2,331 parents of middle and high school students using two anonymously completed questionnaires covering the knowledge of HPV infection and related diseases, and attitudes to vaccinations. The approached schools were a convenience sample of the schools of the greater Milan area, Northern Italy.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>More mothers than fathers were aware that HPV infection could concern their children (58% <it>vs </it>53%; p = 0.004) and were favourable towards vaccinating their children against HPV (68% <it>vs </it>65%; p = 0.03); among the students, more females than males were aware that HPV infection could concern themselves (45% <it>vs </it>26%; p < 0.001) and would undergo vaccination against HPV (68% <it>vs </it>40%; p < 0.001). The parents' propensity to vaccinate their children against HPV was significantly associated with professing the Catholic religion (odds ratio - OR = 0.61, 95% confidence interval - CI 0.46-0.82, being atheist), the gender of the offspring (OR = 1.88, 95% CI 1.53-2.30, having at least one daughter), a propensity to vaccinations in general (OR = 23.1, 95% CI 13.7-38.8), a knowledge that HPV vaccine is aimed at preventing cervical cancer (OR = 2.31, 95% CI 1.69-3.16), and an awareness that HPV could affect their own children (OR = 3.52, 95% CI 2.89-4.29). The students who were aware that HPV infection could affect themselves were more in favour of to HPV vaccination, regardless of whether they were male (OR = 5.73, 95% CI 2.85-11.5) or female (OR = 2.39, 95% CI 1.66-3.46).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both students and parents seem to underestimate the likelihood of HPV infection, and this is associated with a lower propensity for vaccination. This is an important indication for future training programmes concerning HPV prevention designed to increase the acceptance of HPV vaccine in families.</p
Coffee and its waste repel gravid Aedes albopictus females and inhibit the development of their embryos
Mouse models to unravel the role of inhaled pollutants on allergic sensitization and airway inflammation
Air pollutant exposure has been linked to a rise in wheezing illnesses. Clinical data highlight that exposure to mainstream tobacco smoke (MS) and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) as well as exposure to diesel exhaust particles (DEP) could promote allergic sensitization or aggravate symptoms of asthma, suggesting a role for these inhaled pollutants in the pathogenesis of asthma. Mouse models are a valuable tool to study the potential effects of these pollutants in the pathogenesis of asthma, with the opportunity to investigate their impact during processes leading to sensitization, acute inflammation and chronic disease. Mice allow us to perform mechanistic studies and to evaluate the importance of specific cell types in asthma pathogenesis. In this review, the major clinical effects of tobacco smoke and diesel exhaust exposure regarding to asthma development and progression are described. Clinical data are compared with findings from murine models of asthma and inhalable pollutant exposure. Moreover, the potential mechanisms by which both pollutants could aggravate asthma are discussed
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is strongly associated with productive infection by herpesvirus saimiri
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis is a fatal disease without effective therapy or diagnostic test. To investigate a
potential role for c�herpesviruses in this disease, 21 paraffin-embedded lung biopsies from patients diagnosed
with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and 21 lung biopsies from age-matched controls with pulmonary fibrosis of
known etiology were examined for a series of c�herpesviruses’ DNA/RNA and related proteins using in situ
hybridization and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR)-based methods. We detected four
proteins known to be in the genome of several c�herpesviruses (cyclin D, thymidylate synthase, dihydrofolate
reductase, and interleukin-17) that were strongly co-expressed in the regenerating epithelial cells of each of the
21 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases and not in the benign epithelia of the controls. Among the c�
herpesviruses, only herpesvirus saimiri expresses all four of these ‘pirated’ mammalian proteins. We found
herpesvirus saimiri DNA in the regenerating epithelial cells of 21/21 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis cases using
four separate probe sets but not in the 21 controls. RT-PCR showed that the source of the cyclin D RNA in active
idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis was herpesvirus saimiri and not human. We cloned and sequenced part of
genome corresponding to the DNA polymerase herpesvirus saimiri gene from an idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
sample and it matched 100% with the published viral sequence. These data are consistent with idiopathic
pulmonary fibrosis representing herpesvirus saimiri-induced pulmonary fibrosis. Thus, treatment directed
against viral proliferation and/or viral-associated proteins may halt disease progression. Further, demonstration
of the viral nucleic acids or proteins may help diagnose the disease
Regional-scale relationship among biological soil crusts, invasive annual grasses, and disturbance
The domestic effectiveness of international human rights monitoring in established democracies. The case of the UN human rights treaty bodies
Carbamazepine Withdrawal in Children With Previous Symptomatic Partial Epilepsy: Effects on Neuropsychologic Function
Hypertonic saline has a prolonged effect on mucociliary clearance in adults with cystic fibrosis
Background: Inhaled hypertonic saline (HS) has been shown to increase mucociliary clearance (MCC) and improve clinical outcomes in adults and adolescents with cystic fibrosis (CF). However, in younger children with CF, a large study failed to demonstrate clinical benefits. This discrepancy could reflect pharmacodynamic differences in the MCC response to HS in different populations. We previously demonstrated the absence of a sustained effect of HS on MCC in healthy adults and in this study sought to characterize the durability of the MCC response to HS in adults with CF. Methods: At two study sites, MCC was measured in CF adults using gamma scintigraphy during three separate visits: at baseline, 15 min, and 4 h after a single dose of HS (7% NaCl, 4 mL). Particle clearance rates at these visits were used to assess the durability of the MCC response to HS. Results: The average 90-minute clearance rate measured 4 h after HS was significantly increased (21.81% ± 12.8) when compared to baseline (13.77% ± 8.7, p = .048) and showed no apparent slowing relative to the rate measured 15 min after HS. While not all subjects responded to HS, the acute response strongly predicted the sustained effect in these subjects (r = 0.896, p < .0001). Conclusions: These results suggest that, in contrast to healthy adults, a single dose of HS has a prolonged effect on MCC in adults with CF, which lasts at least 4 h. This may explain its clinical efficacy in this population
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