The potential functional significance of human 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1,25(OH)2D3] receptor (hVDR) phosphorylation at Ser-208 was evaluated by cotransfecting COS-7 kidney cells with hVDR constructs and the catalytic subunit of human casein kinase 11 (CK-11). Under these conditions, hVDR is intensely phosphorylated in a reaction that depends on both CK-II and the presence of Ser-208. The resu...

BACKGROUND In February 2006, a hernia clinic was established at the Queen Elizabeth II Health Sciences Centre in Halifax, Nova Scotia. It was based on a group model of care and was established to increase effective use of resources to reduce waiting times. We conducted a survey of patients referred to the hernia clinic to determine compliance. METHODS We developed and mailed a questionnaire t...

OBJECTIVE To investigate the prevalence of an excessive prepuce in patients with premature ejaculation (PE) and to evaluate the effectiveness of distal circumcision in reducing the penile hypersensitivity, which is thought to be a cause of PE. PATIENTS AND METHODS Men were considered to have an excessive prepuce if the foreskin exceeded the external urethral meatus by ≥1 cm in the flaccid sta...

AIMS To evaluate the effects of an outpatient multidisciplinary weight loss intervention in reducing body mass index (BMI) in children and adolescents suffering overweight and obesity, changes in A Body Shape Index (ABSI, waist circumference normalized to height and weight) and Hip Index (HI, normalized hip circumference) during treatment and correlation between the ABSI and HI with change in B...

BACKGROUND Chlamydia trachomatis infection (CTI) is the most frequent sexual transmitted disease (STI) in Switzerland but its prevalence in undocumented migrants is unknown. We aimed to compare CTI prevalence among undocumented migrants undergoing termination of pregnancy (ToP) to the prevalence among women with residency permit. METHODS This prospective cohort study included all pregnant, un...

The benefits of collaboration in healthcare have been linked positively with higher patient satisfaction, improved patient outcomes, enhanced nursing staff satisfaction, and decreased hospital costs. A sample of nurse anesthetists and anesthesiologists affiliated with postgraduate training programs in the state of Texas responded to a survey designed to gather attitudes toward physician-nurse c...

OBJECTIVE Current guidelines have advised against the performance of (131)I-iodide diagnostic whole body scintigraphy (dxWBS) to minimize the occurrence of stunning, and to guarantee the efficiency of radioiodine therapy (RIT). The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of stunning on the efficacy of RIT and disease outcome. SUBJECTS AND METHODS This retrospective analysis included 208 p...