In some cases, the viscosity and/or viscoelastic functions even increase with temperature, especially in formulations with residual free NCO groups. Several experimental flow problems, such as fracture and sample expelling from the measuring tool, are generally found, more frequently in formulations with high NCO content. (C) Protein Tyrosine Kinase inhibitor 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc., J Appl Polym Sci 118: 693-704, 2010″
“Low temperature cathodo- and photoluminescence has been performed on nonpolar a-plane GaN films grown using

epitaxial lateral overgrowth. In films overgrown at a low V-III ratio, the emission spectrum is dominated by “”yellow”" and “”blue”" luminescence bands, attributed to recombination at point defects or impurities. The intensity of this emission is observed to decrease steadily across the window region along the -c direction, possibly due to asymmetric diffusion of a point defect/impurity species. When overgrown at a higher V-III ratio, the near band edge and basal-plane stacking DNA Damage inhibitor fault emission intensity increases by orders of magnitude and a donor-acceptor pair band is observed. Using monochromatic cathodoluminescence

imaging, the various emission features are correlated with the microstructure of the film. In particular, the peak energy of the basal-plane stacking fault emission is seen to be blueshifted by similar to 15 meV in the wing relative to the window region, which may be related to the different strain states in the respective regions. (C) 2010 American Institute of Physics. [doi:10.1063/1.3460641]“
“The recent arrival in Northern and Western (NW) Europe of bluetongue virus (BTV), which causes the ruminant disease ‘bluetongue’, has raised the profile of this vector-borne ruminant disease and sparked discussions on the reasons for its sudden emergence so far north. This expansion has not happened in isolation and the disease has been expanding into Southern and Eastern Europe for the last decade. This

shifting disease distribution is being facilitated by a number of different introduction mechanisms including the movement of infected livestock, the passive movement of infected Culicoides on the wind and, in NW Europe, an unknown route of introduction. The expansion of BTV in Europe has forced a re-evaluation BMS-777607 in vivo of the importance of Palaearctic Culicoides species in transmission, as well as the importance of secondary transmission routes, such as transplacental transmission, in facilitating the persistence of the virus. The current European outbreak of BTV-8 is believed to have caused greater economic damage than any previous single-serotype outbreak. Although attempts are being made to improve the capacity of European countries to cope with future BTV incursions, the options available are limited by a lack of basic entomological data and limited virological surveillance.

The genetic effect of the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G>T polymorphism on PCV was assessed by calculating pooled odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs). We www.selleckchem.com/products/fosbretabulin-disodium-combretastatin-a-4-phosphate-disodium-ca4p-disodium.html found that elevated PCV risk was significantly associated with the GG genotype (GG vs TT, OR = 4.23, 95%CI = 3.53-5.06), and heterozygous genotype TG appeared to have a minor effect on PCV risk (TG vs TT, OR = 1.47, 95% CI = 1.26-1.71). Patients with the T allele were 2.09 times more likely to have PCV than those with the G allele (95% CI = 1.906-2.288). A further subgroup

analysis by ages also showed that the genetic effect of the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G>T polymorphism on PCV is stronger among patients with mean age <73 years. Our meta-analysis strengthened the evidence that the LOC387715/ARMS2 rs10490924 G>T polymorphism plays an important

role in PCV susceptibility.”
“Dynamic physical exercise (walking, swimming, and so on) is an important component click here of lifestyle changes to reduce blood pressure; however, many individuals are unwilling or unable to adopt this lifestyle change. Isometric exercise has not traditionally been recommended as an alternative to dynamic exercise and has not been well studied. A meta-analysis of controlled trials of isometric exercise on resting blood pressure was therefore undertaken. Five trials were identified including a total of 122 subjects. Isometric exercise for <1 h per week reduced systolic blood pressure by 10.4 mm Hg and diastolic HSP990 mouse blood pressure by 6.7 mm Hg. These changes are similar to those achieved with a single pharmacological agent. These results suggest that isometric exercise may be of value as part of lifestyle advice in maintaining a desirable blood pressure. Journal of Human Hypertension (2010) 24, 796-800; doi:10.1038/jhh.2010.13; published online 25 February 2010″
“Background: Up to fifty percent of alcohol dependent individuals have alexithymia, a personality trait characterised by difficulties identifying and describing feelings, a lack of imagination and an externalised cognitive style.

Although studies have examined alexithymia in relation to alcohol dependence, no research exists on mechanisms underlying this relationship. The present study examined the mediational effect of alcohol expectancies on alexithymia and alcohol dependence.

Methods: 230 outpatients completed the Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20), the Drinking Expectancy Questionnaire (DEQ) and the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test (AUDIT).

Results: Regression analysis showed that alexithymia and alcohol dependence was, in two of three cases, partially mediated through alcohol expectancy. Conclusions: Alcohol expectancies of assertion and affective change show promise as mediators of alcohol dependence in individuals with alexithymia. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Histiocytic hyperplasia was observed in the bone marrow smear of 2 patients. Mild hemophagocytosis was

observed in the bone marrow of 3 patients. All patients recovered completely, and their peripheral blood counts returned to normal by 2 to 6 weeks after antibiotic treatment of brucellosis. In conclusion, the authors would like to emphasize that brucellosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of children with pancytopenia.</.”
“Astragalus mongholicus (AM) derived from the dry root of Astragalus membranaceus Bge. var. mongolicus (Bge.) Hsiao is a widely used traditional Chinese medicine. The present study investigated the potential role of AM on renal fibrosis on a rat model of unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO). We divided 48 Sprague-Dawley rats randomly into 4 groups: sham-operated group (Sham), untreated UUO group, AM-treated (10 g/(kg center dot d)) UUO Flavopiridol order group, and losartan-treated (20 mg/(kg center

dot d)) UUO group as positive control. Haematoxylin & eosin (HE) and Masson P005091 staining were used to study the dynamic histological changes of the kidneys 7 and 14 d after operation. The expressions of fibronectin (FN), type I collagen (colI), hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), transforming growth factor-beta 1 (TGF-beta 1), and alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA) were analyzed by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR), immunohistochemistry staining, and Western blot. Results show that, similar to losartan, AM alleviated the renal damage and decreased the deposition of FN and colI from UUO by reducing the expressions of TGF-beta 1 and alpha-SMA (P < 0.05), whereas HGF increased greatly with AM treatment (P < 0.05). Our findings reveal that AM could retard the progression of renal fibrosis. The

renoprotective effect of AM might be related to inhibition of myofibroblast activation, inducing of HGF AZD2014 datasheet and reducing of TGF-beta 1 expression.”
“Two different bisoxazolines, 2,2′-(1,3-phenylene) bis(2-oxazoline) (1,3-PBO) and 2,2′-bis(2-oxazoline) (BO) were investigated as chain extenders for short chain unsaturated polyesters (UPEs). These extenders reacted readily with carboxyl ends of unsaturated polyesters, leading to rapid molecular weight increase through coupling of oligomeric chains. Commercially available unsaturated polyesters commonly have molecular weights around 1500, usually reached after a 20-h polyesterification reaction. When bisoxazolines were reacted with short UPE chains obtained at the 6th hour of a commercial polyesterification reaction, the molecular weight of UPE reached 1500 within 530 min, which provides economies and prevents the glycol loss and yellowing which are associated with extended reaction times. Styrene solubility, gel time, and thermal and mechanical properties of the chain extended polyesters remained comparable to the commercial UPE, with 810 min of gel time and a storage modulus about 3000 MPa. (C) 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Proteins involved in carbon metabolism were identified and were predominantly expressed at higher levels during the cleavage polyembryony and columnar embryo stages. Functional annotation of one seed protein revealed it involvement in programmed cell death and translation of selective mRNAs, which may play an important role in subordinate embryo elimination and suspensor degeneration in polyembryonic seed gymnosperms. Other identified proteins were associated with protein

folding, nitrogen metabolism, disease/defense response, and protein storage, synthesis and stabilization. The comprehensive protein expression profiles generated by this study will Cell Cycle inhibitor provide new insights into the complex developmental process of seed development in Masson pine. (C) 2012 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“The steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) spectra of cubic Al(x)Ga(1-x)N have been measured for 0 < x < 1. The intensity of the room temperature PL increases by an order of magnitude when the AlN content increases from x = 0 to x = 0.95. Additionally, the PL decay slows down with the decrease of temperature and increase of x. These results show that strong localization of carriers on alloy composition fluctuations plays a large role in determining the intensity and temporal evolution of the PL. The activation energy for the localized carriers increases with the increase of x

and reaches the value of 55 meV at x = 0.95. (C) 2011 American Institute of Physics. [doi: 10.1063/1.3632988]“
“Docetaxel-based combination chemotherapy VS-6063 supplier remains the predominant treatment for castration-resistant prostate cancer. However, taxane-related drug resistance and neurotoxicity have prompted us to develop substitute treatment strategies. Eg5 (kinesin spindle protein), which is crucial for bipolar spindle formation and duplicated chromosome separation during the early phase of mitosis, has emerged as an attractive target for cancer chemotherapy. The aim of this study was to investigate the anticancer efficacy of S-(methoxytrityl)-L-cysteine (S(MeO)TLC), a novel Z-IETD-FMK order Eg5 inhibitor in prostate cancer. Eg5 expression

was examined in human prostate cancer cell lines and tissue microarrays were constructed from clinical specimens. Antiproliferative activity of S(MeO) TLC in prostate cancer cells was assessed by a cell viability assay. The anticancer effect and inhibitory mechanism of S(MeO) TLC in prostate cancer cells was further explored by Hoechst staining, flow cytometry and immunofluorescence. In addition, the antitumor effect of S(MeO) TLC on subcutaneous xenograft models was assessed. Eg5 expression was identified in PC3, DU145 and LNCaP cells. More than half of prostate cancer clinical specimens displayed Eg5 expression. S(MeO) TLC exhibited more powerful anticancer activity in prostate cancer cells compared with the other four Eg5 inhibitors tested.

“
“Fast-spiking (FS) cells in the neocortex are interconnected both by inhibitory chemical synapses and by electrical synapses, or gap-junctions. Synchronized firing of FS neurons is important in the generation of gamma oscillations, at frequencies between 30 and 80 Hz. To understand how these synaptic interactions control synchronization, artificial synaptic conductances were

injected in FS cells, and the synaptic phase-resetting function (SPRF), describing how the compound synaptic input perturbs B-Raf inhibition the phase of gamma-frequency spiking as a function of the phase at which it is applied, was measured. GABAergic and gap junctional conductances made distinct contributions to the SPRF, which had a surprisingly simple piecewise linear form, with a sharp midcycle break between phase delay and advance. Analysis of the SPRF showed how the intrinsic biophysical properties of FS neurons and their interconnections allow entrainment of firing over a wide gamma frequency band, whose upper selleckchem and lower frequency limits are controlled by electrical synapses and GABAergic inhibition respectively.”
“Study Design.

Retrospective, case series.

Objective. To determine the prevalence of major complications and to identify factors that increase the risk of complications in patients undergoing surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis.

Summary of Background Data. Complications after surgery for neuromuscular scoliosis are more prevalent than in idiopathic scoliosis. However, the associated risk factors have not been statistically significant.

Methods. Our computerized Pediatric Orthopedic Spine Database identified 131 consecutive patients

with neuromuscular scoliosis, excluding those with myelodysplasia, who underwent surgery and had a minimum of 2 years of follow-up. Preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative factors were analyzed for any association with major Geneticin nmr complications and length of stay using stepwise logistic and multiple regression analyses. Odds ratios were calculated for significant dichotomous variables, and receiver operator characteristic curves were created for significant continuous variables.

Results. There were 81 male and 50 female patients with a mean age at surgery of 13.4 years (range, 6-21 years). The majority of patients (n = 75) had cerebral palsy. Eighty-eight patients (67%) underwent posterior spinal fusion and segmental spinal instrumentation (only), whereas 43 patients (33%) underwent an anterior spinal fusion followed by a posterior spinal fusion with segmental spinal instrumentation. Seventy-seven patients (59%) were fused to the pelvis using the Galveston technique. The mean follow-up was 3.9 years (range, 2-16.9 years). There were 46 major complications in 37 patients (28% prevalence), including 2 deaths. Nonambulatory status (P < 0.05) and preoperative curve magnitude (P < 0.01) were associated with an increased prevalence of major complications.

The results for the mechanical Z-DEVD-FMK in vivo properties showed that the processing aids increased the impact strength significantly (up to three times that of neat PP) but reduced the flexural modulus of PP nanocomposites. PPG, which is polar promoted wetting MMT surface, thus increasing its inter-layer distance, mainly for PP/C-20A nanocomposites. However, it reduced the interfacial adhesion between the clay and the matrix. Nanocomposites impact strength was improved, especially when the C-15A organoclay was used, while were achieved better results with the C-20A organoclay when EMCA was used. The larger the amount of processing aid added, the higher the impact strength, but the lower the flexural modulus of the nanocomposites.

PPG caused debonding of the clay particles and increased the number of microvoids, generating more mechanisms to aid in the energy dissipation of the systems. EMCA promoted debonding of clay particles with the formation of fibrils, indicating

stronger interactions between the clay and matrix. A slight nucleation effect for PP crystallization was observed, mainly when EMCA was used. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 119: 15671575, 2011″
“Study Design. Systematic review.

Objective. To assess the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicines in treating chronic neck pain with radicular signs or symptoms.

Summary of Background Data. Chronic neck pain with radicular signs or symptoms is a common condition. Many patients use complementary and alternative medicine, including traditional Chinese medicine, to address their symptoms.

Methods. We electronically searched MI-503 inhibitor CENTRAL, MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL, and AMED (up to 2009), the Chinese Biomedical Database and related herbal medicine data-bases in Japan and South Korea (up to 2007). We also contacted content experts and hand searched

a number of journals published in China.

We included randomized controlled trials with adults with a clinical diagnosis of cervical degenerative disc disease, cervical radiculopathy, or myelopathy supported by appropriate radiologic check details findings. The interventions were Chinese herbal medicines. The primary outcome was pain relief, measured with a visual analogue scale, numerical scale, or other validated tool.

Results. All 4 included studies were in Chinese; 2 of which were unpublished. Effect sizes were not clinically relevant and there was low quality evidence for all outcomes due to study limitations and sparse data (single studies). Two trials (680 participants) found that Compound Qishe Tablets relieved pain better in the short-term than either placebo or Jingfukang; one trial (60 participants) found than an oral herbal formula of Huangqi relieved pain better than Mobicox or Methycobal, and another trial (360 participants) showed that a topical herbal medicine, Compound Extractum Nucis Vomicae, relieved pain better than Diclofenac Diethylamine Emulgel.

Conclusion.

“
“Clostridium difficile is a common cause of nosocomial diarrhea. Its role in community-acquired diarrhea is also becoming an important public health concern. Hardly any studies have correlated strain ribotypes, toxinotypes and multidrug resistant (MDR) profiles. To investigate these characteristics, 65 C. difficile isolates obtained from stool samples of patients whose cultures were negative on admission but became positive after 48 h of admission to the ICUs of our hospitals were studied to determine the prevalent ribotypes, toxinotypes and their relationship with the MDR profiles using ELISA/cytotoxicity assays, PCR and Etest methods. The toxin-producing strains were toxinotyped by the PCR-RFLP

technique. Of selleck products the 65 isolates, 42 (64.6%) were toxigenic (T). The isolates were of diverse ribotypes but types 097, 078, 056 and 039 (NT) were predominant. Thirty Fosbretabulin nmr (71.4%) of 42 T and 13 (56.5%) of 23 NT strains were multiresistant to 3 or more antibiotics. Only 3 toxinotypes (0, “”V-like”" and XII) were encountered. Of the 42 T strains, 30 (71.4%) were of toxinotype 0, and 12 belonged to variant toxinotypes: 4 (9.4%) to toxinotype XII and 8 (19%) to “”V-like”" toxinotype in which amplified 131 PCR fragments was amplified as expected for toxinotype V but the A3 PCR fragment could not be amplified. The 43 MDR strains were assigned to 3 arbitrary resistance groups; groups

1, 11 and III. The most prevalent isolates (37; 86.1%) were in group II. Of the predominant T ribotypes (097, 078 and 056), c. 62% clustered in group II. selleck chemicals llc Although the number of strains toxinotyped was small, ribotyping and toxinotyping correlated well with the published literature, except for 078 with a novel “”V-like”" toxinotype. Antibiogram was not as clear-cut.”
“We investigated multilayer and bilayer Ni/Si thin films by nanodifferential scanning calorimetry (nano-DSC) at ultrarapid scan rates, in a temperature-time regime not accessible with conventional apparatus. DSC experiments were completed at slower scan rates. as well, where it was possible to conduct parallel rapid thermal annealing experiments for comparison. Postexperimental

characterization was accomplished by x-ray diffraction, and by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and energy-filtered TEM of thin cross sections prepared by focused ion beam milling. We found that rate of heating has a profound effect on the resulting microstructure, as well as on the DSC signal. After heating to 560 degrees C at 120 degrees C/s, the general microstructure of the multilayer was preserved, in spite of extensive interdiffusion of Ni and Si. By contrast, after heating to 560 degrees C at 16 000 degrees C/s, the multilayer films were completely homogeneous with no evidence of the original multilayer microstructure. For the slower scan rates, we interpret the results as indicating a solid state diffusion-nucleation-growth process.

GLC was highest for the avoidance of high dosages or fast-acting formulations. It was lowest for strategies minimizing individual and public health harms, such as the initiation of opioids on a time-limited trial basis, use of contracts, and the preclusion or management BTSA1 of aberrant behaviors. GLC was positively associated with relevant training or qualifications, registration with the Australian Prescription Drug Monitoring Programme, being an opioid substitution therapy prescriber, and female gender. Conclusions. In this study, long-term opioids

were frequently initiated for CNMP without a quality use-of-medicine approach. Potential sequelae are inadequate treatment of pain and escalating opioid-related harms. These data suggest a need for improved resourcing and training in opioid management across pain and addictions.”
“Measurement of porcine C-reactive protein (CRP) in serum is an important tool for monitoring health and welfare in pigs. In this study, an immunoturbidimetric method from Olympus System Reagent (OSR 6147) used to measure human CRP in serum that employ a human traceable calibrator has been evaluated in porcine serum samples. Intra-and inter-assay imprecision were lower than that obtained with the porcine-specific commercially available ELISA. The expected

difference in serum CRP between healthy and non-healthy pigs was detected. CRP values measured by the immunoturbidimetric method showed a good correlation with those obtained by ELISA, although differences click here in absolute CRP values were observed. When an in-house porcine

standard was used a better agreement was obtained. In conclusion, the immunoturbidimetric method of Olympus can be used with porcine samples. Selonsertib molecular weight The easier use of this method should facilitate the implementation of CRP serum determination for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in swine medicine. The results emphasize the need to establish species-specific standard and methods to decrease inter-laboratory discrepancies. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objective Buprenorphine and fentanyl transdermal patches are used widely for the management of persistent malignant and nonmalignant pain. Buprenorphine and fentanyl transdermal patches, both potent opioids, are considered to be equally efficacious in managing persistent pain. Various retrospective studies comparing dosage changes of buprenorphine and fentanyl patches in persistent pain patients have been completed; however, no long-term prospective, randomized, clinical study has compared the effectiveness of these patches. The objective of the present study was to satisfy this need. Aims This study aims to compare prospectively the long-term efficacy, acceptability, and side effects of both of these patches in patients with persistent pain.

This was a retrospective clinical analysis

of 89 patients who underwent hysteroscopic adhesiolysis by monopolar electrode knife. A second-look office hysteroscopy was performed in all cases after 2 months. On second-look hysteroscopy, 12 patients showed reformation of adhesions and needed a repeat procedure.

The mean age of the patient was 28.4 years. In the majority (64%) of patients, the possible cause of Asherman’s syndrome check details was previous curettage on gravid uterus. The overall conception rate was 40.4% after hysteroscopic adhesiolysis. The mean conception time after surgery was 12.8 months. There was no conception in patients who needed repeat adhesiolysis. The conception rate was higher (58%) in mild Asherman’s syndrome compared to 30% conception rate in moderate and 33.3% conception rate in severe cases. There was no significant association between conception rate and preoperative menstrual pattern. There was significant higher likelihood

of conception rate (44.3%) in those who continued to have improved menstrual pattern compared to only 10% likelihood of conception in those who continued to have amenorrhea after adhesiolysis. The live birth rate was 86.1% and miscarriage rate was 11.1%. Cumulative pregnancy rate showed that 97.2% patients conceived within 24 months. There was increased incidence (43.8%) of cesarean section. Four (12.5%) patients had postpartum hemorrhage for adherent placenta.

Hysteroscopic adhesiolysis for Asherman’s syndrome Torin 1 is a safe and effective method of choice for restoring menstrual function Anlotinib in vitro and fertility.”
“To

study the efficacy and safety of performing anterior mesh (Perigee) with vaginal reconstructive surgeries (sacrospinous ligament fixation) for treatment of advanced prolapse.

One hundred twenty-eight patients, POP-Q stage III (n = 85) or IV (n = 43), underwent surgery. The objective cure was defined as less than stage 2 prolapse. Introital ultrasonography was used for mesh morphological evaluation.

Post-operative data were available for 120 patients. At 30 months, the objective cure was 91.8%. The subjective cure was 93.3% on POPDI-6 feedback. No apical and anterior recurrence was observed. Surgical complications were minor. Five cases (4.1%) of mesh extrusion was observed. Mesh shortening, shrinkage, and thickening was also observed.

The combination of anterior vaginal mesh and vaginal reconstructive surgery appears to be a safe and effective in restoring the anatomy and achieving favorable pelvic function. The anterior mesh deployed seems to cover a lesser area than anticipated. A longer period of follow-up is necessary to confirm its efficacy.”
“Study Design. In vitro human cadaveric biomechanical study.

Objective. This study quantifies the multidirectional flexibility of the spine following laminoplasty and laminectomy after cervical disc arthroplasty.

Summary of Background Data.

Three weeks of expectant management failed to reduce uteroplacental blood perfusion evaluated with pulsatility index of the uterine artery. Labor was then induced with gemeprost vaginal pessary following overnight laminaria pretreatment. Vaginal delivery was achieved with total blood loss of 1900 ml. Homologous blood transfusion was obviated owing to autologous blood that had GDC-0994 chemical structure been stored during the waiting period.”
“Metabolic/bariatric

procedures for the treatment of morbid obesity, as well as for type 2 diabetes, are among the most commonly performed gastrointestinal operations today, justifying periodic assessment of the numerical status of metabolic/bariatric surgery and its relative distribution of procedures.

An email questionnaire was sent to the leadership of the 50 nations or national groupings in the International Federation for the Surgery of Obesity and Metabolic Disorders (IFSO). Outcome measurements were numbers of metabolic/bariatric operations and surgeons, types of procedures performed, and trends from 2003 to 2008 to 2011 worldwide and in the regional groupings of Europe, USA/Canada, Latin/South America, and Asia/Pacific.

Response rate was 84 %. The global total number of procedures

in 2011 was 340,768; the global total number of metabolic/bariatric surgeons was 6,705. The most commonly performed procedures were Roux-en-Y gastric bypass (RYGB) 46.6 %; sleeve gastrectomy (SG) 27.8 %; adjustable gastric banding (AGB) 17.8 %; and biliopancreatic diversion/duodenal switch (BPD/DS) 2.2 %. The global trends LY3023414 research buy from 2003 to 2008 to 2011 showed a decrease in RYGB: 65.1 to 49.0 to 46.6 %; an increase, followed by a steep decline, in AGB: 24.4 to 42.3 to 17.8 %; and a marked increase in SG: 0.0 to 5.3 to 27.89 %. BPD/DS declined: 6.1 to 4.9 to 2.1 %. The trends from the four IFSO regions differed, except for the universal increase in SG.

Periodic metabolic/bariatric FDA approved Drug Library price surgery surveys add to the knowledge and understanding of all physicians caring for morbidly obese patients. The salient message of the 2011 assessment is that SG (0.0 % in 2008) has markedly increased in prevalence.”
“Objective: Asthma is the most common chronic disease

among children. Uncontrolled asthma may considerably decrease the quality of life for patients and their families. Our objective was to identify possible risk factors for poor asthma control in children. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among children with asthma aged 4-11 years who attended a pediatric clinic for follow-up visits at one of the major teaching hospitals in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Asthma control status was measured by the childhood asthma control test. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to explore the relationships between the outcome and exposure variables. Results: Uncontrolled asthma was present in 89 out of 158 children (59.3%). Asthma control improved with the number of siblings. Control improved by 69% with two or three siblings (OR = 0.