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Background The aetiology of female pattern hair loss (FPHL) is largely unknown. However, it is hypothesized that FPHL and male pattern baldness (AGA) share common susceptibility alleles. The two major susceptibility loci for AGA are the androgen receptor ( AR)/ectodysplasin A2 receptor ( EDA2R) locus on the X-chromosome, and a locus on chromosome 20p11, for which no candidate gene has yet been identified. Objectives To examine the role of the AR/ EDA2R and 20p11 loci in the development of FPHL using 145 U.K. and 85 German patients with FPHL, 179 U.K. supercontrols and 150 German blood donors. Methods Patients and controls were genotyped for 25 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the AR/ EDA2R locus and five SNPs at the 20p11 locus. Results Analysis of the AR/ EDA2R locus revealed no significant association in the German sample. However, a nominally significant association for a single SNP (rs1397631) was found in the U.K. sample. Subgroup analysis of the U.K. patients revealed significant association for seven markers in patients with an early onset ( P = 0·047 after adjustment for the testing of multiple SNPs by Monte Carlo simulation). No significant association was obtained for the five 20p11 variants, either in the overall samples or in the analysis of subgroups. Conclusions The observed association suggests that the AR/ EDA2R locus confers susceptibility to early-onset FHPL. Our results do not implicate the 20p11 locus in the aetiology of FPHL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many intensive care units (ICUs) have standard feeding protocols which promote safe early initiation of enteral feeding. The use of these protocols has been shown to increase the incidence of enteral feeding and achieve greater adequacy of nutrition support. A multidisciplinary working party developed and implemented a nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm which enabled senior nursing staff to set safe and nutritionally adequate target feed volumes based upon patient body weight. The algorithm incorporated best practice-based referral criteria so that patients at nutritional risk were referred for tailored dietetic assessment. The aims were to determine compliance with the ICU nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm and to ascertain its safety and efficacy. A 3-month prospective audit was conducted by specialist ICU dietitians. Data were obtained from electronic patient records and through observing feeding practices. Data collected included prescribed feed type and infusion rate versus volume received, frequency of gastric aspiration and prokinetic usage. In all, 90% (n = 43) of referrals received by the dietitian met the referral criteria. Absolute compliance with patients receiving correct type and volumes of feed, with a correct feed prescription and an accurate documented weight was just 2% (n = 1). Despite this finding, 60% of patients were actually receiving the correct feed regimen. If the nurse-led enteral feeding algorithm is wholly adhered to, the ICU dietitian need not formally assess every ICU patient. Nursing staff require further support in assessing patient body weight alongside an ongoing intensive educational programme for the multidisciplinary team and regular reaudit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compares cognitive-behavioral therapy (CT; n = 20), behavioral marital therapy (BMT; n = 19), and a treatment combining BMT and CT (CO; n = 21) in the alleviation of wives' depression and the enhancement of marital satisfaction. Method; Results;Discussion.

Chaoborus is of great interest to many freshwater ecologists. The adults can become pests in certain areas in North America and the larvae are an important food source for fish. In this preliminary study, we identified variable microsatellite loci in three species: Chaoborus astictopus ( HE = 0.52–0.76) , Chaoborus americanus ( HE = 0.46–0.80) and Chaoborus punctipennis ( HE = 0.66–0.81). Using a biotin/streptavidin capture technique of repetitive sequences in a 96-well format, we obtained microsatellite-enriched genomic libraries for all three species and identified six polymorphic microsatellite markers for each species. None of the primers did yield a polymerase chain reaction fragment in a cross-species test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]