No abstract available.
Animal ; Calcium-Binding Proteins/metabolism ; Feedback/physiology ; Ligases/metabolism ; Mice ; Patch-Clamp Techniques ; Salivary Ducts/physiology* ; Salivary Ducts/cytology ; Sodium/metabolism ; Sodium Channels/metabolism* ; Submandibular Gland/physiology* ; Submandibular Gland/cytology

No abstract available.
Animal ; Biological Transport/physiology ; Biological Transport/drug effects ; Cholera/metabolism ; Diglycerides/pharmacology ; Epithelial Cells*/virology ; Epithelial Cells*/microbiology ; Epithelial Cells*/metabolism ; Escherichia coli ; Escherichia coli Infections/metabolism ; Estrenes/pharmacology ; In Vitro ; Indoles/pharmacology ; Influenza/metabolism ; Intestinal Mucosa/cytology ; Maleimides/pharmacology ; Mice ; Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors/pharmacology ; Pyrrolidinones/pharmacology ; Respiratory Mucosa/cytology ; Sodium Channels/metabolism* ; Staurosporine/pharmacology ; Vibrio cholerae

PURPOSE: This study determined if anterior talofibular ligament (ATFL)/superior extensor ankle retinaculum (SEAR) thicknesses are related to dynamic balance in individuals with chronic ankle instability (CAI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 14 males and 15 females (age=24.52±3.46 years). Ankle instability was assessed using the Cumberland Ankle Instability Tool (CAIT) with a cut off score of 25 to define two groups. SonoSite MTurbo (Fugifilm Sonosite, Inc.) musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS) unit was used to assess ATFL and SEAR thicknesses. Dynamic balance was measured with the Y Balance Test (YBT) and two NeuroCom balance tests. RESULTS: There were no significant differences in the average ATFL thickness between stable and unstable ankles in those subjects with CAI (0.25±0.03 cm and 0.21±0.05 cm, respectively) or in the SEAR thickness (0.09±0.04 cm and 0.10±0.03 cm, respectively). There were also no significant differences in the right and left ATFL thicknesses (0.23±0.07 cm and 0.21±0.04 cm, respectively) or the SEAR thicknesses (0.09±0.01 cm and 0.09±0.01 cm, respectively) in those without CAI. There were no differences between limbs in composite scores on YBT in those with CAI (p=0.35) and those without CAI (p=0.33). There was a moderate correlation between the left SEAR thickness and the large forward/backward perturbations on the NeuroCom (Natus) motor control test (r=0.51, p=0.006 and r=0.54, p=0.003, respectively). CONCLUSION There were no differences in the ATFL/SEAR thicknesses or balance measures between or within the groups, likely because CAI is multi-factorial and related to mechanisms other than tissue changes alone. More sensitive technology and a better definition of the measurement process may provide more definitive results.

Introduction: There is a high burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the Western Province, Papua New Guinea. This study aims to describe the spatial distribution of TB in the Balimo District Hospital (BDH) catchment area to identify TB patient clusters and factors associated with high rates of TB. Methods: Information about TB patients was obtained from the BDH TB patient register for the period 26 April 2013 to 25 February 2017. The locations of TB patients were mapped, and the spatial scan statistic was used to identify high- and low-rate TB clusters in the BDH catchment area. Results: A total of 1568 patients were mapped with most being from the Balimo Urban (n = 252), Gogodala Rural (n = 1010) and Bamu Rural (n = 295) local level government (LLG) areas. In the Gogodala region (Balimo Urban and Gogodala Rural LLGs), high-rate clusters occurred closer to the town of Balimo, while low-rate clusters were located in more remote regions. In addition, closer proximity to Balimo was a predictor of high-rate clustering. Discussion There is heterogeneity in the distribution of TB in the Balimo region. Active case-finding activities indicated potential underdiagnosis of TB and the possibility of associated missed diagnoses of TB. The large BDH catchment area emphasizes the importance of the hospital in managing TB in this rural region.