We conducted a study in the summer of 2004 at county fairs in the Midwest to investigate the role poultry exhibits have in spreading avian pathogens to humans. A nearly invisible powder (pathogen surrogate) that fluoresces under UV light was surreptitiously sprinkled each day on 1 show bird at each of 2 fairs. A UV light box was used to daily examine the hands of 94 poultry-exhibit participants...

A short 6-item version of General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-6) was evaluated for its validity of a sample of STD patients in the hands of a non-psychiatrist untrained in psychiatry in comparison to independent and detail psychiatric assessment. The GHQ-6 was found to have a moderate sensitivity of 55%, but high specificity rate of 87%.

INTRODUCTION The trapeziometacarpal (TMC) joint of the human thumb is the second most common joint in the hand affected by osteoarthritis. TMC arthroplasty is a common procedure used to alleviate symptoms. No randomized controlled trials have been published on the efficacy of different post-operative orthotic regimes. METHOD Fifty six participants who underwent TMC arthroplasty were allocated...

– In metallic magnets like MnSi the interplay of two very weak spin-orbit coupling effects can strongly modify the Fermi surface. In the absence of inversion symmetry even a very small Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interaction of strength δ ≪ 1 distorts a ferromagnetic state into a chiral helix with a long pitch of order 1/δ. We show that additional small spin-orbit coupling terms of order δ in the band...

BACKGROUND This study was conducted to evaluate perceptions of healthcare workers (HCW) and parents regarding hand-hygiene and effectiveness of measures for increasing hand-hygiene adherence, in a children's hospital in Italy. METHODS A cross-sectional study was performed from 5 to 13 July 2010, using two self-administered anonymous questionnaires (one for HCWs and one for parents/caregivers)...

This study was undertaken to determine practices and perceived barriers to access related to oral health by surveying administrators in Michigan alternative long-term care facilities (ALTCF). A 24-item questionnaire was mailed to all 2,275 Michigan ALTCF serving residents aged 60+. Facility response rate was 22% (n = 508). Eleven percent of facilities had a written dental care plan; 18% stated ...

Sensitivity and specificity of neuropathy diabetes score, neuropathy symptoms score, diabetic neuropathy score and esthesiometry compared with the gold standards Michigan neuropathy screening instrument (MNSI) and Beck depression inventory (BDI)

BACKGROUND The University of Michigan Dioxin Exposure Study (UMDES) was undertaken in response to concerns that the discharge of dioxin-like compounds from the Dow Chemical Company facilities in Midland, Michigan, resulted in contamination of soils in the Tittabawassee River floodplain and areas of the city of Midland, leading to an increase in residents' body burdens of polychlorinated dibenzo...

OBJECTIVE Peripheral sensory neuropathy (PSN) is a common cause of ulceration and amputation in diabetes (DM) patients. The prevalence of PSN in DM patients is largely undetermined in sub-Saharan African population. We studied the burden of PSN in DM patients using a validated questionnaire and quantitative sensory test. METHODS In a case-control design, PSN was measured in 491 DM patients an...