73 m(2) and reverted to a feedback correlation below 80 ml/min/1

73 m(2) and reverted to a feedback correlation below 80 ml/min/1.73 m(2). Conclusion: The perturbation of mineral metabolism in chronic kidney disease results in the maintenance of a normal range of [Ca](s) and [P](s) acting as the controlled factors AZD5582 clinical trial at the cost of large variations of i[PTH](s), and calcium and phosphate urinary excretions behaving as controlling factors. Copyright

c 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of open abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair in octogenarians during a time period of multiple commercially available endografts, in which only proximal aneurysms or the most challenging anatomy are not stented.\n\nMethods: A retrospective review was performed of all patients Sotrastaurin chemical structure aged >= 80 years undergoing open AAA repair over a 7-year period (2003-2009) at a single academic medical center. Demographic data, aneurysm characteristics, comorbidities, operative results, perioperative complications, length of stay, and late outcomes were analyzed.\n\nResults: Sixty-five patients were identified (men, n = 27) with a median age of 82 years (80-89 years old). Mean aneurysm size was 6.7 cm. Morphology consisted of type IV thoracoabdominal (n = 19), suprarenal (n = 14), pararenal (n = 19), and infrarenal (n =

13). Eighty-five percent of cases were performed electively. A tube graft was used in 58 patients, and the left renal p53 inhibitor artery was bypassed in 33 patients. Fifty-two patients required a suprarenal or supraceliac clamp, with a mean proximal clamp time of 22 minutes. Mean estimated blood loss was 1800 mL. Mortality was 6% at 30 days.

Overall morbidity was 42%, most commonly an arrhythmia (25%). Major complication rate was 18%. Median intensive care unit (ICU) and hospital length of stay was 3 and 9 days, respectively. Sixty-one percent of patients were discharged directly home. Six patients developed acute renal failure, although none progressed to dialysis. Mean serum creatinine was 1.3 mg/dL preoperatively and 1.5 mg/dL at discharge. One patient developed bowel necrosis (sigmoid colon) requiring resection. Follow-up ranged from 1 to 81 months (mean, 24 months). Three-year survival was 79%.\n\nConclusion: With an increasing population of elderly patients, vascular surgeons are continually confronted with patients over 80 years of age. Our patients consisted of those not anatomically suitable for endovascular aortic aneurysm repair. Despite a predominance of proximal aneurysms, our results demonstrate excellent rates of morbidity and mortality. Thus, open AAA repair can be done safely and effectively in octogenarians, and age alone should not exclude this form of repair. ( J Vasc Surg 2011;53:278-84.)”
“The present study describes some of the applications of ultrasound in bone surgery, based on the presentation of two clinical cases.\n\nThe Piezosurgery (R) ultrasound device was used (Tecnologia Mectron Medical, Carasco, Italy).

The temperate litter has a higher operational

taxonomic u

The temperate litter has a higher operational

taxonomic unit (OTU) diversity than the tropical litter, paralleling the trend in soil diversity. Overall, it is striking that the difference in community composition between the leaf litter and the soil a few centimeters underneath is about the same as that between leaf litter in tropical and temperate climates, thousands of kilometers apart. However, one substantial difference was that the leaf litter of two tropical forest sites, Meranti and Forest Research Institute Malaysia (FRIM), was overwhelmingly dominated by the single genus Burkholderia, AZD8186 in vitro at 37 and 23 % of reads, respectively. The 454 sequencing result showed that most Burkholderia species in tropical leaf litter belong to nonpathogenic “plant beneficial” lineages. The differences from the temperate zone in the bacterial community of tropical forest litter may be partly a product of its differing chemistry, although the unvarying climate might also play a role, as might interactions with other organisms such as fungi. The single genus Burkholderia may be seen as potentially playing a major role in decomposition and nutrient cycling in tropical forests, BYL719 nmr but apparently not in temperate forests.”
“The cis-regulatory element contributed to gaining humanness is of great interest in human evolutionary studies.

A human-accelerated region exceeding neutral evolutionary rates, termed HACNS1, was recently reported as a positively selected sequence acquiring novel TF-binding sites responsible for human-specific gain of limb enhancer function. However, another possibility is loss of function in repressor element in HACNS1. Signature of the human substitutions in Sapitinib cell line the 81-bp region infers that a GC-biased gene conversion (BGC) might create these seemingly excessive substitutions. To evaluate the 81-bp function, we performed transgenic mouse assay of the HACNS1 construct lacking the 81-bp region. The deleted construct showed similar enhancer activity to the intact human HACNS1, suggesting that the function of the human 81-bp region is not an activating enhancer but rather a disrupted repressor. This result infers that

loss of function in the HACNS1 81-bp region, possibly via a BGC, played an important role in human-specific evolution.”
“Zinc-finger domains are found in many nucleic acid-binding proteins in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes. Proteins carrying zinc-finger domains have important roles in various nuclear transactions, including transcription, mRNA processing and mRNA export; however, for many individual zinc-finger proteins in eukaryotes, the exact function of the protein is not fully understood. Here, we report that Red5 is involved in efficient suppression of specific mRNAs during vegetative growth of Schizosaccharomyces pombe. Red5, which contains five C3H1-type zinc-finger domains, localizes to the nucleus where it forms discrete dots.

Neurocognitive function was assessed at baseline and week 24 usin

Neurocognitive function was assessed at baseline and week 24 using a neuropsychological battery. RAL PK parameters were compared to those of two younger historical HIV-infected control groups that received twice-daily RAL co-administered with darunavir/ritonavir (DRV/r) 800/100 once daily by nonlinear mixed effects modelling. Results: In HIV-infected subjects over the age of 60 (mean +/- SD age: 66 +/- 3.4 years, n=19) switching to a RAL containing regimen, we observed no safety concerns, no plasma virological rebounds, and no differences in RAL apparent oral clearance when compared

to younger HIV-infected KU-57788 order populations (mean +/- SD age: 41 +/- 9.2 years, n=38) based on population pharmacokinetic analysis. After 24 weeks of study therapy

a decline in cognitive function was observed [change in (SD) global score of (0.91 (1.3), P=0.018]. Conclusions: No significant changes in RAL exposure associated with age were observed.”
“Right ventricular (RV) dimensions and function are of diagnostic and prognostic importance in cardiac disease. Because of the peculiar morphology of the right ventricle, 2-dimensional echocardiography has several limitations in RV evaluation. Recently, new 3-dimensional transthoracic echocardiographic software adapted for RV morphology was introduced. The aims of this study were to evaluate the feasibility of 3-dimensional RV analysis in a large population and to compare and correlate 3-dimensional RV data with classic 2-dimensional and Doppler parameters, including tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion and peak systolic velocity on Doppler tissue imaging, RV fractional shortening area, SB203580 nmr RV stroke volume (by the Doppler GNS-1480 method), and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure. Two hundred subjects were studied: 48 normal controls

and 152 patients with valvular heart disease (104 patients), idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy (20 patients), or pulmonary hypertension (28 patients). The mean times for 3-dimensional acquisition and 3-dimensional reconstruction were 3 +/- 1 and 4 +/- 2 minutes, respectively. Imaging quality was good in most cases (85%). The mean RV diastolic and systolic volumes were 103 +/- 38 and 46 +/- 28 ml, respectively. The RV ejection fraction (RVEF) was correlated negatively with pulmonary arterial systolic pressure and positively with tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion, peak systolic velocity, and fractional shortening area. The pathologic group was characterized by larger RV volumes and lower RVEFs. Three-dimensional echocardiography clearly showed that in the pathologic group, patients with pulmonary hypertension had the largest RV volumes and the lowest RVEFs and that those with idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy were characterized by RVEFs lower than those of patients with valvular disease. In conclusion, this new quantitative 3-dimensional method to assess RV volumes and function is feasible, relatively simple, and not time consuming.

Methods SSc was induced in BALB/c mice by subcutaneous injections

Methods SSc was induced in BALB/c mice by subcutaneous injections of HOCl daily for 6 weeks. Mice were randomized to treatment with sunitinib, sorafenib, or vehicle. The levels of native and phosphorylated PDGF receptor beta (PDGFR beta) and vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR) in the skin were assessed by Western blot and immunohistochemical analyses. Skin and lung fibrosis were evaluated by histologic and biochemical methods. Autoantibodies were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and spleen cell populations were analyzed by flow cytometry. Results Phosphorylation of PDGFR beta

and VEGFR was higher in fibrotic SU5402 clinical trial skin from HOCl-injected mice with SSc than from PBS-injected mice. Injections of HOCl induced cutaneous and lung fibrosis, increased the proliferation rate of fibroblasts in areas of fibrotic skin, increased splenic B cell and T cell counts, and increased antiDNA topoisomerase I autoantibody levels in BALB/c mice. All of these features were reduced by sunitinib but not by sorafenib. Sunitinib significantly reduced the phosphorylation

of both PDGF and VEGF receptors. Conclusion Inhibition of the hyperactivated PDGF and Mixed Lineage Kinase inhibitor VEGF pathways by sunitinib prevented the development of fibrosis in HOCl-induced murine SSc and may represent a new SSc treatment for testing in clinical trials.”
“Isorhamnetin 3-O-glucoside, which was. contained together with isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside in atsumi-kabu leaves, suppressed increases in the plasma ALT and AZD2014 AST activities of mice with liver injury induced by the injection of carbon tetrachloride, but no suppression by isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was apparent. This result indicates that the release

of glucose at the 7-position in isorhamnetin 3,7-di-O-glucoside was very important to mitigating liver injury.”
“Imber AN, Putnam RW. Postnatal development and activation of L-type Ca2+ currents in locus ceruleus neurons: implications for a role for Ca2+ in central chemosensitivity. J Appl Physiol 112: 1715-1726, 2012. First published March 8, 2012; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01585.2011.-Little is known about the role of Ca2+ in central chemosensitive signaling. We use electrophysiology to examine the chemosensitive responses of tetrodotoxin (TTX)-insensitive oscillations and spikes in neurons of the locus ceruleus (LC), a chemosensitive region involved in respiratory control. We show that both TTX-insensitive spikes and oscillations in LC neurons are sensitive to L-type Ca2+ channel inhibition and are activated by increased CO2/H+. Spikes appear to arise from L-type Ca2+ channels on the soma whereas oscillations arise from L-type Ca2+ channels that are distal to the soma. In HEPES-buffered solution (nominal absence of CO2/HCO3-), acidification does not activate either oscillations or spikes.

Transmission electron microscopy

Transmission electron microscopy HKI-272 ic50 and particle-size-distribution patterns determined by the laser-light-scattering method confirmed the formation of well-dispersed AuNPs. The most frequent size of particles was 79 nm.”
“Recent studies indicate that the intracellular

C-terminus of Group I metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGlu(1) and mGlu(5) receptor) is important in G protein coupling. To determine the necessity of the C-tail, a deletion mutant of mGlu(1) receptor was constructed, which included the first 840 amino acids of the rat mGlu(1a) receptor (mGlu(1)-dCT). G protein coupling of the receptors was assessed by measuring glutamate mediated inhibition of native calcium currents when each receptor was expressed in isolated

sympathetic neurons from the rat superior cervical ganglion. Wild type mGlu(1) receptor activates both the G alpha(i/0) and G this website alpha(q/11) protein families. Each pathway can be detected in superior cervical ganglion neurons as voltage dependent and voltage independent inhibition of the calcium currents, respectively. While wild type mClu(1) receptor gave rise to a strong, mixed voltage dependent and independent calcium current inhibition, mGlu(1)-dCT exhibited a weaker inhibition that was strongly voltage dependent, indicating activation of G alpha(i/0) was predominant. Further, pertussis toxin treatment reduced the inhibition by wild type mGlu(1) receptor to a smaller, voltage independent inhibition as expected, but completely abolished signaling through mClu(1)-dCT. Finally, to test whether mGlu(1)-dcT could produce any activation of G alpha(q/11), inhibition of the native superior cervical ganglion M-type potassium currents was examined. M-channels, inhibited by PIP(2) depletion, were strongly inhibited by glutamate in cells expressing wild type mGlu(1) receptor, but no inhibition was detectable in neurons expressing

mGlu(1)-dCT. ubiquitin-Proteasome degradation These data indicate that C-terminal deletion of mGlu(1) receptor selectively abolishes G alpha(q/11) coupling. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.”
“The outer envelope of vaccinia virus extracellular virions is derived from intracellular membranes that, at late times in infection, are enriched in several virus-encoded proteins. Although palmitoylation is common in vaccinia virus envelope proteins, little is known about the role of palmitoylation in the biogenesis of the enveloped virus. We have studied the palmitoylation of B5, a 42 kDa type I transmembrane glycoprotein comprising a large ectodomain and a short (17 aa) cytoplasmic tail. Mutation of two cysteine residues located in the cytoplasmic tail in close proximity to the transmembrane domain abrogated palmitoylation of the protein. Virus mutants expressing non-palmitoylated versions of B5 and/or lacking most of the cytoplasmic tail were isolated and characterized. Cell-to-cell virus transmission and extracellular virus formation were only slightly affected by those mutations.


“The global obesity epidemic has been escalating for four


“The global obesity epidemic has been escalating for four decades, yet sustained prevention efforts have barely begun. An emerging science that uses quantitative models has

provided key insights into the dynamics of this epidemic, and enabled researchers to combine evidence and to calculate the effect of behaviours, interventions, and policies at several levels from individual to population. Forecasts suggest that high rates of obesity will affect future population health and economics. Energy gap models have quantified the association of changes in energy intake and expenditure with weight change, and have documented the effect of higher intake on obesity prevalence. Empirical evidence that shows interventions are effective is limited www.selleckchem.com/products/ly2835219.html but expanding. We identify several cost-effective policies that governments should prioritise for implementation. Systems science provides a framework for organising the complexity of forces driving the obesity epidemic and has important implications

for policy Blebbistatin makers. Many parties (such as governments, international organisations, the private sector, and civil society) need to contribute complementary actions in a coordinated approach. Priority actions include policies to improve the food and built environments, cross-cutting actions (such as leadership, healthy public policies, and monitoring), and much greater funding for prevention programmes. Increased investment in population obesity monitoring would improve the accuracy of forecasts and evaluations. The MK5108 in vitro integration

of actions within existing systems into both health and non-health sectors (trade, agriculture, transport, urban planning, and development) can greatly increase the influence and sustainability of policies. We call for a sustained worldwide effort to monitor, prevent, and control obesity.”
“Imatinib is a first-line treatment for chronic myelogenous leukaemia (CML). The pharmacokinetics of imatinib in patients with CML are characterised by large interpatient variability. Concentration monitoring of imatinib and its active metabolite N-desmethyl imatinib (DMI) is considered necessary to enhance the safe and effective use of imatinib. A rapid, simple and sensitive liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry assay was developed for the simultaneous determination of imatinib and its metabolite DMI in human plasma. After proteins were precipitated with acetonitrile, imatinib, DMI and the internal standard D8-imatinib were resolved on a Gemini-NX 3 mu m C18 column using gradient elution of 0.05 % formic acid and methanol. The three compounds were detected using electrospray ionisation in the positive mode. Standard curves of imatinib and DMI were adequately fitted by quadratic equations (r > 0.

9% for ICH (95% confidence interval, CI = 94 5-97 0%) and 96 1% f

9% for ICH (95% confidence interval, CI = 94.5-97.0%) and 96.1% for SAH (95% CI = 94.8-97.0%). The coding errors observed were largely expected, with different types of stroke miscoded as ICH and SAH.\n\nConclusions: selleck The accuracy of ICD-10 hospital discharge coding for hemorrhagic stroke was excellent. However further research is needed to find ways to further improve its accuracy.”
“Complex airway diseases represent a therapeutic challenge and require multidisciplinary input. Surgery remains the definitive modality. Minimally invasive endobron, chial techniques have resulted in symptom control and long-term

improvements. The rigid bronchoscope remains the method of choice for the treatment of both benign and malignant central airway obstruction. However, it has limited use if lesions are located in the upper lobes or lung periphery, but significant technological advances allow for effective treatments using the flexible bronchoscope. Rigid and flexible

bronchoscopes should be seen as complementary procedures and most cases require the use of both modalities.”
“High soil temperatures achieved with solarization practice used in greenhouses may prevent diseases infested from soils with soil pathogens. Physical manipulations like tillage, increasing soil water content and addition of organic residues to soil increase effectiveness of solarization by way of facilitating downward heat flux and increasing temperature in subsoil. A two-year MK-2206 work assessing importance of soil tillage, soil wetting and CO2 enriched air (for simulating organic residue addition to soil) on solarization Flavopiridol was carried out in glass and plastic greenhouses (1 glass and 2 of plastic) with clay and sandy soils in Eastern Mediterranean region of Turkey. Four treatments were tested: (1) with tillage (T), (2) no tillage (NT), (3) with tillage and CO2 addition

(TCO2) and (4) no tillage and no CO2 addition (NTCO2). The CO2 enrichment of air under plastic mulch covering soil during the solarization was done using dry ice (i.e. CO2). The levels of the highest temperatures attained under different treatments during solarization period were assessed and recorded. The results showed that the highest temperature was recorded throughout the complete solarization period under the treatment with soil tillage and CO2 addition (TCO2) over all soil depths (5, 20 and 35 cm). The mean highest temperatures recorded for 30 days of solarization period did not exhibit any consistent trend in clay soils (Greenhouse 1 and 2) whereas the ranking of the treatments TCO2>T>NT>NTCO2 was maintained in sandy soil (Greenhouse 3). The highest temperature attained in Greenhouses 1 and 2, with soils of clay texture, and 3 with soil of sandy texture, at soil depths of 5, 20 and 35 cm were 55.4, 45.3 and 41.4 degrees C; 56.8, 46.6 and 42.7 degrees C; 56.6, 48.4 and 44.

Aim: To present our technique for

\n\nAim: To present our technique for Go 6983 order LA and to determine whether LA should be the technique of choice of any case of AA instead of OA.\n\nMaterial and methods: All cases operated for AA (February 2011 through February 2012) by means of LA or OA were prospectively evaluated. Data regarding length of stay, complications, emergency

department consultation after discharge or readmission were collected. Patients were classified into four groups depending on the severity of the appendicitis. Economic data were obtained based on the cost of the disposable material. Cost of hospital stay was calculated based on the Ley de Tasas of the Generalitat Valenciana according to the DRG and the length of stay.\n\nResults: One hundred and forty-two Pevonedistat chemical structure cases were included. Ninety-nine patients underwent OA and 43 LA. Average length of stay for LA group was 2,6 days and 3,8 for OA. Average cost of the stay for

OA was 1.799 euros and 1.081 euros for LA. Global morbidity rate was 16%, 5% for LA and 20% for OA.\n\nConclusions: LA is nowadays the technique of choice for the treatment of AA.”
“We undertook this in vitro study to quantify the effect that addition of magnesium (Mg) sulfite to neonatal serum, as compared with adult serum, might have on ionized Mg (Mg(2+)) concentration. We used one cord blood sample and one adult blood sample that we made hypermagnesemic by adding various amounts of magnesium sulfate to study five levels of serum Mg. Each sample was then studied at one of three levels of pH, from extreme alkalosis to extreme acidosis. We measured the changes in serum Mg(2+) and serum ionized calcium

(Ca(2+)) in reaction to these changes in pH and Mg. At each pH find more level, there was an exponential increase in the serum Mg(2+) (and no significant change in serum Ca(2+)) with increasing serum Mg. Multiple regression analysis using Mg(2+) as the dependent variable and baseline Ca(2+), phosphorous, albumin, and blood type (adult versus cord blood) as well as blood pH and serum Mg as independent variables indicated that serum Mg and pH were the only variables significantly influencing serum Mg(2+). Within the range of serum Mg considered, the addition of magnesium sulfate in vitro causes an exponential increase in Mg(2+) and no significant change in serum Ca(2+).”
“Ethnopharmacological relevance: Gualou Guizhi decoction (GLGZD) prescribed in traditional Chinese medicine has been reported to have protective effects on ischemic stroke. The present study is to investigate the therapeutic effect of GLGZD on ischemic stroke and explore its mode of action. Materials and methods: GLGZD was studied on transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) followed by reperfusion in vivo, as well as on hippocampal primary neuron cultures in vitro.

These findings provide evidence for the mechanisms by which HSYA

These findings provide evidence for the mechanisms by which HSYA maintains EC survival under hypoxia.”
“Background. Deferoxamine mesylate is known to ameliorate tissue ischemia reperfusion injury. This study

was designed to explore the impact of deferoxamine mesylate preconditioning (DMP) on pancreatic tissue and its possible effects during orthotopic liver autotransplantation.\n\nMethods. A modified orthotopic liver autotransplantation model was used to simulate pancreatic ischemia reperfusion injury. Sprague-Dawley rats (0.25-0.30 kg) were randomly GANT61 divided into normal control, autotransplantation (AT), systemic deferoxamine mesylate preconditioning (SDMP), and partial deferoxamine mesylate conditioning (PDMC) groups. The SDMP group was injected with deferoxamine mesylate (75-90 mg; 300 mg/kg),

Ulixertinib via the celiac artery at 24 and 48 hours before surgery. During surgery, the PDMC group underwent liver perfusion by means of deferoxamine mesylate solution (20 ml; 0.6 mmol/L) rather than Ringer’s lactate solution, with no prior preconditioning. At 6, 24, and 48 hours after surgery, the rats were sacrificed to sample their pancreatic tissues for the expression of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 alpha (HIF-1 alpha) and malondialdehyde (MDA) content. The samples were subjected to blood chemistry analyses, light and transmission electron microscopic morphological studies, and quantitative measurement of HIF-1 alpha expression.\n\nResults. The serum levels

of amylase, lipase, and MDA in SDMP and PDMC groups were significantly lower than those in the AT group at 6, 24, and 48 hours after orthotopic liver autotransplantation (P < .05). Light and electron microscopic analyses showed much more severe pancreatic injury in the autotransplantation than in the SDMP and PDMC groups. The HIF-1 alpha expression was increased in the SDMP and PDMC groups more than in the autotransplantation group (P < .05).\n\nConclusions. Deferoxamine mesylate preconditioning protected pancreatic tissue in orthotopic liver autotransplantation GM6001 in rats. Inhibition of oxidative toxic reactions and up-regulated expression of HIF-1 alpha protein are possible mechanisms.”
“Evaluating the biomedical literature and health-related websites for quality are challenging information retrieval tasks. Current commonly used methods include impact factor for journals, PubMed’s clinical query filters and machine learning-based filter models for articles, and PageRank for websites. Previous work has focused on the average performance of these methods without considering the topic, and it is unknown how performance varies for specific topics or focused searches. Clinicians, researchers, and users should be aware when expected performance is not achieved for specific topics. The present work analyzes the behavior of these methods for a variety of topics.

In C maenas, incorporation of l-(3-(3)H)-serine and l-(2-(14)C)-

In C. maenas, incorporation of l-(3-(3)H)-serine and l-(2-(14)C)-ethanolamine into PC of hepatopancreas was strongly inhibited after acclimation to fresh water (FW). The results show that PC synthesis via the PEMT pathway and its subsequent release into hemolymph are both activated in SW- compared to FW-adapted animals. SW-adaptation GSK1838705A cost also resulted in increased tissue concentrations of betaine and labeling from l-(U-(14)C)-serine, suggesting that the PEMT-derived PC is used for the synthesis of organic osmolytes. The physiological relevance of these observations is discussed.”
“Wegener ‘s granulomatosis (WG) is a systemic

vasculitis that can affect any organic system, but primarily involves the upper and lower respiratory tracts and the kidneys.

WG relatively frequently affects the nervous system (in 30-50%), usually in the form of peripheral or cranial neuropathy. Involvement of the brain is reported in a very small percentage of patients (2%-8%). Three major mechanisms have been described as the cause of central nervous system (CNS) disease in WG: contiguous invasion of granuloma from extracranial sites, remote intracranial granuloma and CNS vasculitis. CNS involvement caused by contiguous p38 protein kinase invasion of granuloma from extracranial sites is the rarest. We report the case of a 37-year-old man with WG, manifested as a pulmonary and paranasal sinuses disease, with. orbital and CNS involvement, caused by contiguous invasion from the paranasal sinuses. In this report, the rich spectrum of findings BEZ235 nmr achieved by computed tomography and magnetic resonance are demonstrated. The importance of computed tomography in bony destruction PNS findings, and the

importance of MR imaging in evaluation of the direct intracranial spread from nasal, paranasal and orbital disease are also emphasized.”
“Joint kinematic assessment using an electromagnetic tracking device (EMTD) requires palpation-digitization (PD) of bony landmarks to define the anatomical axes. Errors in PD of bony landmarks can perturb the anatomical axes and affect the validity and reliability of kinematic measurements. The validity and reliability of PD for kinematic measurement needs to be explored before recommending its wider use. A systematic search of 15 electronic databases located studies assessing validity and/or reliability of PD for joint kinematic assessment. Two independent reviewers used the QUADAS and QAREL tools to assess quality of validity and reliability studies respectively. The results were synthesized qualitatively using a level of evidence approach. Eight studies satisfied the final eligibility criteria and were included in the review. The validity, intra-rater reliability and inter-rater reliability were assessed in three, seven and one study respectively. The overall level of evidence for validity of PD technique was strong with high correlation (>= 0.80) reported by three high (>= 60%) quality studies.