ABSTRACT
RESULT: In the denture wearers, HHV8 DNA was detected in 11 cases. Two of the controls amplified HHV8 DNA. Fisher's exact test demonstrates a significant difference between virus infection and using removable dentures (p = 0.015). CONCLUSION: Our findings suggested that HHV8 detection could be associated with use of denture.
Subject(s)
DNA, Viral , Denture, Complete/virology , Denture, Partial, Removable/virology , Herpesviridae Infections , Herpesvirus 8, Human , Real-Time Polymerase Chain Reaction , Saliva/virology , Aged , Aged, 80 and over , Cross-Sectional Studies , DNA, Viral/genetics , DNA, Viral/metabolism , Female , Herpesviridae Infections/genetics , Herpesviridae Infections/metabolism , Herpesvirus 8, Human/genetics , Herpesvirus 8, Human/metabolism , Humans , Male , Middle AgedABSTRACT
The use of ultrasound guidance has revolutionized regional anesthesia practice. Ultrasound equipment disinfection techniques vary between institutions. To date, there are no large data set publications or evidence-based guidelines that describe risk-reduction techniques for infectious complications related to the use of ultrasound guidance for peripheral nerve blockade. We retrospectively reviewed the medical charts of 7476 patients who received ultrasound-guided single-injection peripheral nerve blockade from October 2003 to August 2013 using our institution's low-level disinfection technique in combination with a sterile transparent film barrier dressing to cover the ultrasound transducer. No indications of block-related infection were found. We conclude that using a practical and efficient low-level disinfection technique and sterile barrier dressing results in an extremely low rate of block-related infection following ultrasound-guided single-injection peripheral nerve blockade.
Subject(s)
Autonomic Nerve Block/trends , Cross Infection/epidemiology , Hospitals, University/trends , Peripheral Nerves , Ultrasonography, Interventional/trends , Adult , Aged , Autonomic Nerve Block/adverse effects , Cross Infection/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Ontario/epidemiology , Peripheral Nerves/microbiology , Retrospective Studies , Ultrasonography, Interventional/adverse effectsABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Surgical residency has the reputation of being arduous and stressful. We sought to determine the stress levels of surgical residents, the major causes of stress and the coping mechanisms used. METHODS: We developed and distributed a survey among surgical residents across Canada. RESULTS: A total of 169 participants responded: 97 (57%) male and 72 (43%) female graduates of Canadian (83%) or foreign (17%) medical schools. In all, 87% reported most of the past year of residency as somewhat stressful to extremely stressful, with time pressure (90%) being the most important stressor, followed by number of working hours (83%), residency program (73%), working conditions (70%), caring for patients (63%) and financial situation (55%). Insufficient sleep and frequent call was the component of residency programs that was most commonly rated as highly stressful (31%). Common coping mechanisms included staying optimistic (86%), engaging in enjoyable activities (83%), consulting others (75%) and exercising (69%). Mental or emotional problems during residency were reported more often by women (p = 0.006), who were also more likely than men to seek help (p = 0.026), but men reported greater financial stress (p = 0.036). Foreign graduates reported greater stress related to working conditions (p < 0.001), residency program (p = 0.002), caring for family members (p = 0.006), discrimination (p < 0.001) and personal and family safety (p < 0.001) than Canadian graduates. CONCLUSION: Time pressure and working hours were the most common stressors overall, and lack of sleep and call frequency were the most stressful components of the residency program. Female sex and graduating from a non-Canadian medical school increased the likelihood of reporting stress in certain areas of residency.
Subject(s)
Internship and Residency/organization & administration , Stress, Psychological/epidemiology , Work Schedule Tolerance/psychology , Workload , Adult , Canada , Cross-Sectional Studies , Education, Medical, Graduate/organization & administration , Female , General Surgery/education , Hospitals, Teaching , Humans , Job Satisfaction , Male , Needs Assessment , Personal Satisfaction , Surveys and Questionnaires , Time Factors , Young AdultABSTRACT
La proteins are conserved factors in eukaryotes that bind and protect the 3' trailers of pre-tRNAs from exonuclease digestion via sequence-specific recognition of UUU-3'OH. La has also been hypothesized to assist pre-tRNAs in attaining their native fold through RNA chaperone activity. In addition to binding polymerase III transcripts, human La has also been shown to enhance the translation of several internal ribosome entry sites and upstream ORF-containing mRNA targets, also potentially through RNA chaperone activity. Using in vitro FRET-based assays, we show that human and Schizosaccharomyces pombe La proteins harbor RNA chaperone activity by enhancing RNA strand annealing and strand dissociation. We use various RNA substrates and La mutants to show that UUU-3'OH-dependent La-RNA binding is not required for this function, and we map RNA chaperone activity to its RRM1 motif including a noncanonical α3-helix. We validate the importance of this α3-helix by appending it to the RRM of the unrelated U1A protein and show that this fusion protein acquires significant strand annealing activity. Finally, we show that residues required for La-mediated RNA chaperone activity in vitro are required for La-dependent rescue of tRNA-mediated suppression via a mutated suppressor tRNA in vivo. This work delineates the structural elements required for La-mediated RNA chaperone activity and provides a basis for understanding how La can enhance the folding of its various RNA targets.
