Praxis

About: Praxis is a nonprofit organization based out in Tallinn, Estonia. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Medicine. The organization has 5311 authors who have published 6645 publications receiving 105752 citations.

[Treament of morphine-induced constipation with oral naloxone].

Abstract: Hintergrund: Haufigste Nebenwirkung einer Therapie chronischer Schmerzen mit Opioiden ist eine Obstipation. Sie beruht grostenteils auf einer Bindung der Opiode an Rezeptoren im Magen-Darmtrakt, aus der sie durch oral verabfolgtes Naloxon verdrangt werden konnen, ohne das die analgetische Wirkung wegen der hohen prasystemischen Elimination des Naloxon aufgehoben wird. Protokoll: In einem Therapieversuch erhielten 15 Patienten, die wegen chronischer Schmerzen mit Morphin behandelt wurden und obstipiert waren, Naloxon oral. Ergebnisse: Zwolf Patienten hatten schon 1–4 h nach der ersten Gabe von Naloxon in einem Dosenverhaltnis zu Morphin von 1:1 starken Stuhlgang, wahrend drei Patienten auch nach wiederholter Naloxongabe nicht laxiert waren. Bei den laxierten Patienten konnte die Naloxondosis nach dem ersten Tag auf 2–15% der Morphindosis reduziert werden. Die Analgesie wurde durch orales Naloxon um 10–15% abgeschwacht, lies sich jedoch durch Erhohung der Morphindosis ohne erneute Obstipation wiederherstellen.

Patient and treatment-related risk factors for osteoradionecrosis of the jaw in patients with head and neck cancer

Abstract: Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate risk factors for and the incidence of osteoradionecrosis (ORN) of the jaw in patients with head and neck cancer. Study Design This study was a retrospective analysis of the risk for ORN and outcome for 149 of 540 patients with head and neck cancer of the oral cavity (65%), oropharynx (26%), or other head and neck sites (9%) treated with radiotherapy between 2004 and 2009. ORN was graded according to Late Effects of Normal Tissues/Somatic Objective Management Analytic Scale (LENT/SOMA) criteria. Results Within a median follow-up of 41 months (95% confidence interval: 27.4–54.6), 38 patients (25.5%) had developed ORN, 37 patients (25%) had a local recurrence, and 53 patients (36%) had died. The median time to diagnosis of ORN was 14.5 months (range: 3–80), and 79% were diagnosed within 2 years of RT. Eleven of these patients had undergone previous mandibular surgery. Univariate significant risk factors for ORN were any comorbidity, poor oral hygiene, pre-radiotherapy osteotomy, close tumor-to-bone proximity, post-radiotherapy dentoalveolar surgery (DAS), DAS without sufficient wound closure, alcohol consumption, and denture pressure sores. In multivariate analysis, comorbidities, pre-radiotherapy mandibular surgery, poor oral hygiene, and insufficient DAS remained significant. Conclusions Reducing the risk of ORN calls for maintaining optimal oral hygiene, ensuring good denture fit, receiving proper training in DAS, and helping patients to stop drinking and smoking.

LOFAR Discovery of the Fastest-spinning Millisecond Pulsar in the Galactic Field

Abstract: We report the discovery of PSR J0952−0607, a 707 Hz binary millisecond pulsar that is now the fastest-spinning neutron star known in the Galactic field (i.e., outside of a globular cluster). PSR J0952−0607 was found using LOFAR at a central observing frequency of 135 MHz, well below the 300 MHz to 3 GHz frequencies typically used in pulsar searches. The discovery is part of an ongoing LOFAR survey targeting unassociated Fermi-Large Area Telescope γ-ray sources. PSR J0952−0607 is in a 6.42 hr orbit around a very low-mass companion (Mc ≳ 0.02 M⊙), and we identify a strongly variable optical source, modulated at the orbital period of the pulsar, as the binary companion. The light curve of the companion varies by 1.6 mag from r'= 22.2 at maximum to r' > 23.8, indicating that it is irradiated by the pulsar wind. Swift observations place a 3σ upper limit on the 0.3 - 10 keV X-ray luminosity of LX < 1.1 × 1031 erg s−1 (using the 0.97 kpc distance inferred from the dispersion measure). Though no eclipses of the radio pulsar are observed, the properties of the system classify it as a black widow binary. The radio pulsed spectrum of PSR J0952−0607, as determined through flux density measurements at 150 and 350 MHz, is extremely steep with α ~ -3 (where S ∝ να). We discuss the growing evidence that the fastest-spinning radio pulsars have exceptionally steep radio spectra, as well as the prospects for finding more sources like PSR J0952−0607.

Rapid detection of Salmonella sp. by means of a combination of selective enrichment broth and MALDI-TOF MS

Abstract: The identification of Salmonella sp. in stool samples usually takes 2 days when employing routine procedures. Fast approaches are necessary in order to shorten the analysis time. The aim of this work was the development of a rapid procedure for the detection of Salmonella sp. from clinical stool samples. Spiked stool samples were cultured in selective selenite enrichment broth. Identifications were directly performed from the liquid broth by the MALDI Biotyper. After the evaluation of this method, the same procedure was applied to clinical samples. Coevally, the samples were streaked on Hektoen agar and single colonies were analyzed by the MALDI Biotyper. For comparison, the liquid broth was plated according to the standard laboratory procedure. A total of 4,847 samples were analyzed for Salmonella sp. In total, 108 Salmonella sp.-positive samples were identified; 66 of these were identified after the streaking of stool samples on Hektoen agar and subsequent MALDI Biotyper analysis of Salmonella sp. suspicious colonies. These and a further 34 samples were detected as Salmonella sp.-positive directly from the selenite enrichment broth on day one. Eight Salmonella sp.-positive samples were not detected before plating of the selenite broth and subsequent MALDI Biotyper analysis on day two. The combination of MALDI Biotyper analysis and selective selenite enrichment broth identification delivers positive results for the majority of the samples already after one day.