However, one of the two viruses was

found to be a recombi

However, one of the two viruses was

found to be a recombinant of HAdV-D29. Exclusive reliance on serum neutralization can lead to mischaracterization of adenoviruses and miss coinfections. Whole-genome sequencing remains the gold standard for proper classification of HAdVs.”
“Coiled-coils are widespread protein-protein interaction motifs typified by the heptad repeat (abcdefg)(n) in which “”a”" and “”d”" positions are hydrophobic residues. Although identification of likely coiled-coil sequences is robust, prediction of strand order Milciclib chemical structure remains elusive. We present the X-ray crystal structure of a short form (residues 583-611), “”Q1-short,”" of the coiled-coil assembly specificity domain from the voltage-gated potassium channel Kv7.1 (KCNQ1) determined at 1.7 angstrom resolution. Q1-short lacks one and half heptads this website present in a previously studied tetrameric coiled-coil construct, Kv7.1 585-621, “”Q1-long.”" Surprisingly, Q1-short crystallizes as a trimer. In solution, Q1-short self-assembles more poorly than Q1-long and depends on an R-h-x-x-h-E motif common to trimeric coiled-coils. Addition of native sequences that include “”a”" and “”d”" positions C-terminal to Q1-short overrides the R-h-x-x-h-E motif influence and changes assembly state from a weakly associated trimer to a strongly associated tetramer. These data provide a striking example of a naturally occurring amino sequence that exhibits context-dependent

folding into different oligomerization states, a three-stranded versus a four-stranded coiled-coil. The results emphasize the degenerate nature of coiled-coil energy landscapes NU7441 molecular weight in which small changes can have drastic effects on oligomerization. Discovery of these properties in an ion channel assembly domain and prevalence of the R-h-x-x-h-E motif in coiled-coil assembly domains of a number of different channels that are thought to function as tetrameric assemblies raises the possibility that such sequence features may be important for

facilitating the assembly of intermediates en route to the final native state.”
“We analyzed the nuclear trafficking ability of Gag proteins from six retroviral genera. Contrary to a previous report, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) Gag showed no propensity to cycle through the nucleus. The only Gag protein that displayed CRM1-dependent nuclear cycling was that of Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). Surprisingly, this cycling could be eliminated without compromising infectivity by replacing the RSV Gag N-terminal matrix (MA) domain with HIV MA.”
“Naringenin is a flavone flavonoid possessing antidiabetic, antioxidant and memory improving effects. Therefore, we studied the influence of naringenin against type-2 diabetes-induced memory dysfunction in rats. Type-2 diabetes was induced by high-fat diet and high-fat emulsion for two weeks and a low dose of streptozotocin (35 mg/kg). The memory deficit was assessed by using a novel object recognition paradigm.

Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 896-904; doi:10 1038/labinves

Laboratory Investigation (2011) 91, 896-904; doi:10.1038/labinvest.2011.60; published online 4 April 2011″
“There are currently strong incentives for increased use of renewable fuels in the transport sector worldwide. However, some bioethanol and biodiesel production routes have limitations with regard to resource efficiency and reduction of greenhouse gases. More efficient biofuel systems are those based on lignocelluloses and novel conversion technologies. A complementary strategy to these is to increase the production of biogas from the digestion of IPI145 organic residues and energy crops, or from

byproducts of ethanol and biodiesel production. Compared with other biomass-based vehicle fuels available so far, biogas often has several advantages from an environmental and resource-efficiency perspective. This provides the motivation for further technological development aiming to reduce costs and thereby increased economic competitiveness of biogas as a vehicle fuel.”
“Objective: Sonidegib manufacturer Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a debilitating disorder with prominent symptoms of malaise, fatigue, myalgia, arthralgia, and impaired concentration. The symptoms of CFS may often overlap those of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Treatment of CFS

has generally been disappointing. We hypothesized that s-citalopram therapy may improve the symptoms of both disorders in CFS patients with co-morbid depression.

Methods: 16 patients received s-citalopram 10 mg to 20 mg daily for up to 12 weeks. Outcome measures of CFS included the Chalder Fatigue Questionnaire (CFQ), the multi-dimensional Fatigue Impact Scale (FIS), the CFS symptom rating (CFS-SR) 100 mm visual analogue scale, and the clinical global impressions severity (CGI/S) and change (CGI/C) ratings. Secondary outcomes

of MDD included the Hamilton Depression Rating (HAM-D), Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), and the CGI/S and CGI/C ratings of MDD.

Results: We observed reductions in the mean CFQ https://www.selleck.cn/products/ABT-263.html score (p<0.0005), FIS score (p<0.0005), and CGI/S (p<0.0005) and CGI/C (p<0.0005) ratings over time. There was a significant improvement in 5 of the 8 CFS-SR symptoms: post-exertion malaise (p=0.001), headaches (p < 0.0005), un-refreshing sleep (p < 0.0005), and impaired memory and concentration (p < 0.0005). There was also a reduction in mean HAM-D (p<0.0005), BDI (p<0.0005), CG/S (p=0.001) and CGI/C (p<0.0005) ratings of MDD.

Limitations: The sample size was limited and the study design was not double-blind or placebo controlled.

Conclusion: We observed a significant reduction in both CFS and co-morbid MDD symptom severity ratings, and improvement in 5 of 8 core somatic symptoms of CFS during s-citalopram therapy. (c) 2007 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.”
“Bone destruction in chronic gout is correlated with deposits of monosodium urate (MSU) crystals.

Yotiao has been involved in glutamate and dopamine post-synaptic

Yotiao has been involved in glutamate and dopamine post-synaptic signalling. Here, we seek to determine whether Homer1a and Yotiao might be implicated in post-synaptic response to antipsychotics with affinity to different dopamine D(2) receptors: haloperidol

(0.8 mg kg(-1)), risperidone (3 mg kg(-1)), olanzapine (2.5 mg kg(-1)) and (-)-sulpiride IPI-549 price (50 mg kg(-1)). Homer1a expression was significantly induced by haloperidol compared to vehicle and to atypical antipsychotics in almost all striatal sub-regions. Atypical antipsychotics induced the gene in the lateral putamen and in the core of the accumbens only. All antipsychotics, with the exclusion of sulpiride, elicited a dorsolateral-to-ventromedial distribution pattern of Homeric, expression. No significant induction was detected for Yotiao. These results suggest that the quantitative and topographical pattern of Homer1a expression may putatively be related to learn more antipsychotics affinity and/or occupancy at dopamine D(2) receptors. (C) 2010 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The perceptual integration of afferent inputs from two antagonistic muscles, or the perceptual integration of afferent input and motor imagery are related to the generation of a kinesthetic sensation. However, it has not been

clarified how, or indeed whether, a kinesthetic perception would be generated by motor imagery if afferent inputs from two antagonistic muscles were simultaneously induced by tendon vibration. The purpose of this study was to investigate how a kinesthetic perception would be generated by motor imagery during co-vibration of the two antagonistic muscles at the same frequency. Healthy subjects participated in this experiment. Illusory movement

was evoked by tendon vibration. Next, the subjects imaged wrist flexion movement simultaneously with tendon vibration. Wrist flexor and extensor muscles were vibrated according to 4 patterns such that the difference between the Fedratinib molecular weight two vibration frequencies was zero. After each trial, the perceived movement sensations were quantified on the basis of the velocity and direction of the ipsilateral hand-tracking movements. When the difference in frequency applied to the wrist flexor and the extensor was 0 Hz, no subjects perceived movements without motor imagery. However, during motor imagery, the flexion velocity of the perceived movement was higher than the flexion velocity without motor imagery. This study clarified that the afferent inputs from the muscle spindle interact with motor imagery, to evoke a kinesthetic perception, even when the difference in frequency applied to the wrist flexor and extensor was 0 Hz. Furthermore, the kinesthetic perception resulting from integrations of vibration and motor imagery increased depending on the vibration frequency to the two antagonistic muscles.

(C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd All rights reserved “
“The mo

(C) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“The morphological diversity of animals,

fungi, plants, and other multicellular organisms stems from the fact that each lineage acquired multicellularity independently A prerequisite for each origin of multicellularity was the evolution of mechanisms for stable cell-cell adhesion or attachment Recent advances in comparative genomics and phylogenetics provide critical insights into the evolutionary foundations of cell adhesion Reconstructing the evolution of cell junction proteins in animals and their unicellular relatives exemplifies the roles of co-option and innovation Comparative studies of volvocine algae reveal specific molecular changes that accompanied the evolution of multicellularity in Volvox Comparisons between animals and Dictyostelium show how commonalities and differences in the biology of unicellular Rigosertib find more ancestors influenced the evolution of adhesive mechanisms

Understanding the unicellular ancestry of cell adhesion helps illuminate the basic cell biology of multicellular development in modern organisms”
“Abnormal fatty acid metabolism and dyslipidemia play an intimate role in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular diseases. The availability of glucose and insulin predominate as upstream regulatory elements that operate through a collection of transcription factors to partition lipids toward Pifithrin-�� cost anabolic pathways. The unraveling of the details of these cellular events has proceeded

rapidly, but their physiologic relevance to lifestyle modification has been largely ignored. Here we highlight the role of dietary input, specifically carbohydrate intake, in the mechanism of metabolic regulation germane to metabolic syndrome. The key principle is that carbohydrate, directly or indirectly through the effect of insulin, controls the disposition of excess dietary nutrients. Dietary carbohydrate modulates lipolysis, lipoprotein assembly and processing and affects the relation between dietary intake of saturated fat intake and circulating levels. Several of these processes are the subject of intense investigation at the cellular level. We see the need to integrate these cellular mechanisms with results from low-carbohydrate diet trials that have shown reduced cardiovascular risk through improvement in hepatic, intravascular, and peripheral processing of lipoproteins, alterations in fatty acid composition, and reductions in other cardiovascular risk factors, notably inflammation. From the current state of the literature, however, low-carbohydrate diets are grounded in basic metabolic principles and the data suggest that some form of carbohydrate restriction is a candidate to be the preferred dietary strategy for cardiovascular health beyond weight regulation. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

5 seconds No differences were found between the groups for force

5 seconds. No differences were found between the groups for forced expiratory volume in 1 second. In the logistic regression, stair-climbing time was the only variable associated with postoperative complications, suggesting that the risk of postoperative complications increases with increased stair-climbing time.

Conclusions: The only variable showing association with complications, according to multivariate analysis, was stair-climbing time. (J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2013;145:1093-7)”
“The rat model of prenatal restraint stress (PRS) replicates factors that are implicated in the etiology of anxious/depressive disorders.

We used this model to test the therapeutic efficacy of agomelatine, a novel antidepressant that Selleck AZD1080 behaves as a mixed MT1/MT2 melatonin receptor agonist/5-HT(2c) serotonin receptor antagonist.

Adult PRS rats showed behavioral, cellular, and biochemical abnormalities that were consistent with an anxious/depressive phenotype. These included an increased immobility in the forced swim test, an anxiety-like behavior in the elevated plus maze, reduced hippocampal

levels of phosphorylated cAMP-responsive element binding learn more protein (p-CREB), reduced hippocampal levels of mGlu2/3 and mGlu5 metabotropic glutamate receptors, and reduced neurogenesis in the ventral hippocampus, the specific portion of the hippocampus that encodes memories related to stress and emotions. All of these changes were reversed by a 3-

or 6-week treatment with agomelatine (40-50 mg/kg, i.p., once a day). Remarkably, agomelatine had no effect in age-matched control rats, thereby behaving as a “”disease-dependent”" drug.

These data indicate that agomelatine MX69 did not act on individual symptoms but corrected all aspects of the pathological epigenetic programming triggered by PRS. Our findings strongly support the antidepressant activity of agomelatine and suggest that the drug impacts mechanisms that lie at the core of anxious/depressive disorders.”
“Objective: This study assesses in a baboon model the hemodynamics and human leukocyte antigen immunogenicity of chronically implanted bioengineered (decellularized with collagen conditioning treatments) human and baboon heart valve scaffolds.

Methods: Fourteen baboons underwent pulmonary valve replacement, 8 with decellularized and conditioned (bioengineered) pulmonary valves derived from allogeneic (N = 3) or xenogeneic (human) (N = 5) hearts; for comparison, 6 baboons received clinically relevant reference cryopreserved or porcine valved conduits. Panel-reactive serum antibodies (human leukocyte antigen class I and II), complement fixing antibodies (C1q binding), and C-reactive protein titers were measured serially until elective sacrifice at 10 or 26 weeks. Serial transesophageal echocardiograms measured valve function and geometry. Differences were analyzed with Kruskal-Wallis and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests.

While some authors support dopamine metabolism/oxidation inside 5

While some authors support dopamine metabolism/oxidation inside 5-hydroxytryptamine BTSA1 (5-HT) terminals as the key factor responsible for ROS formation and final 5-HT terminal degeneration, others believe

it is MDMA metabolism into pro-oxidant compounds. Although at first sight both hypotheses appear to contend with each other, it may not be the case. This mini-review was therefore undertaken to try to reconcile both hypotheses and to address the dilemma of the causality of MDMA neurotoxicity. Copyright (C) 2009 S. Karger AG, Basel”
“Objectives: In patients having mitral valve surgery, concomitant surgery for mild functional tricuspid regurgitation remains the subject of debate. This study examined the effect of Maze operation and tricuspid valve repair on postoperative functional tricuspid regurgitation progression.

Methods:

The study retrospectively analyzed 250 patients (86 men, 164 women) with mild functional tricuspid regurgitation (grade 2) who had mitral valve surgery between January 1994 and July 2006. Based on follow-up data, patients were defined as either stable (n = 209, 83.6%) or aggravated (n 41, 16.4%). Predictors for significant tricuspid regurgitation development were identified using Cox regression analysis.

Results: Tariquidar chemical structure The mean follow-up time was 62.6 +/- 39.8 months after surgery. Although most mitral valve procedures were successful, there was an increase in the incidence of significant functional tricuspid regurgitation overall from immediately postoperative to final assessment (5.2% to 16.4%, P< 0.01). Univariate analysis showed that old age, shorter aortic crossclamping time, and omission of Maze operation were associated with functional tricuspid regurgitation

progression. Multivariate analysis showed that older age (adjusted hazard ratio, 1.05; 95% confidence interval, 1.02 to 1.08), a rheumatic etiology of the mitral valve disease (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.31; 95% confidence interval, 1.21 to 4.42), and no Maze operation (adjusted hazard ratio, 7.90; 95% confidence interval, 1.90 to 32.86) were independent predictors of selleckchem mild functional tricuspid regurgitation progression. For the 168 patients with preoperative atrial fibrillation, Maze operation improved the tricuspid regurgitation -free survival significantly (P<. 01) but tricuspid valve repair showed no significant difference.

Conclusions: Mild functional tricuspid regurgitation can progress postoperatively despite successful mitral valve surgery. Although tricuspid valve repairs alleviate progression of functional tricuspid regurgitation, concomitant Maze operation is a more powerful protective factor against mild functional tricuspid regurgitation progression.

The strong inhibitory potential of these CR4 mutants is character

The strong inhibitory potential of these CR4 mutants is characterized by a particular phenotype. The DN effect of the small insertion mutations in CR2 was too weak to analyze (M. Popa, Z. Ruzsics, M. Lotzerich, L. Dolken, C. Buser, P. Walther, and U. H. Koszinowski, J. Virol. Dasatinib manufacturer 84:9035-9046, 2010); therefore, the present study describes the construction of M53 alleles lacking CR2 (either completely or partially) and subsequent

examination of the DN effect on MCMV replication upon conditional expression. Overexpression of CR2-deficient pM53 inhibited virus production by about 10,000-fold. This was due to interference with capsid export from the nucleus and viral genome cleavage/packaging. In addition, the fate of the nuclear envelopment complex in the presence of DN pM53 overexpression was analyzed. The CR2 mutants were able to bind to pM50, albeit to a lesser extent than the wild-type

protein, and relocalized the wild-type nuclear envelope complex in infected cells. Unlike the CR4 DN, the CR2 DN mutants did not affect the stability of pM50.”
“More than 50 detergents including acylated amino acid derivatives were screened for their ability to solubilize and refold recombinant proteins expressed as inclusion bodies Two model proteins human interleukin-6 and microbial transglutaminase were solubilized by these detergents and the solubilized proteins were rapidly diluted for testing their solubilization and refolding effectiveness https://www.selleckchem.com/products/xmu-mp-1.html Long chain-acylated amino acid derivatives having dicarboxylic acid moieties were found to be superior to others under the conditions tested In particular lauroyl L-glutamate (C12-L-Glu) showed the highest recovery of the native proteins The effectiveness of dilution refolding was greatly improved by adding aggregation suppressive arginine into the refolding solvents To gain understanding how this detergent works interactions between detergents and proteins were examined using spectroscopic and native gel electrophoretic Selleckchem Veliparib analyses showing ideal properties for C12-L-Glu as a solubilzing agent le highly reversible nature of the detergent binding to the model globular proteins and of the conformational changes These properties most likely have contributed

to the effective protein solubilzation and refolding of inclusion bodies using C12-L Glu and arginine (C) 2010 Elsevier Inc All rights reserved”
“Benign familial infantile seizure (BFIS) and paroxysmal kinesigenic dyskinesia (PKD) are autosomal-dominant inherited self-limited neurological disorders. BFIS is characterized by clusters of epileptic seizures in infancy while, in some cases, infantile seizures and adolescent-onset paroxysmal kinesigenic choreoathetosis co-occurred, which is called infantile convulsions and choreoathetosis (ICCA) syndrome. We and other researchers have reported the proline-rich transmembrane protein 2 (PRRT2) as the causative gene of PKD. We and our collaborators also identified PRRT2 mutations in ICCA and other phenotypes.

From the 7th to the 28th postnatal day, male rat

pups wer

From the 7th to the 28th postnatal day, male rat

pups were treated daily with a single subcutaneous injection of either 10mg/kg/d naloxone (n=21 rats) or equivalent volume (10 ml/kg) of saline (n = 16). In both treatment conditions, when the pups were 30-40 days- (young groups; 9 Naloxone- learn more and 10 saline-treated rats), or 90-120-days old (adult groups; 12 Naloxone- and 6 saline-treated rats), a 4 h CSD recording session was performed with electrodes at two points at a fixed distance apart on the parietal cortical surface. CSD propagation velocity was calculated based on the time spent for a CSD-wave to pass between the electrodes. In both young- and adult groups, naloxone-treated animals displayed lower CSD velocities (P < 0.05) than the corresponding saline injected animals. Our results demonstrate, for the first time, that chronic neonatal exposure of rats to the opioid antagonist naloxone results in an this website impairing propagration of the CSD that is long lasting, suggesting the existence of one or more opioid-mediated processes influencing CSD. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“This Seminar presents the most recent information about

the congenital long and short QT syndromes, emphasising the varied genotype-phenotype association in the ten different long QT syndromes and the five different short QT syndromes. Although uncommon, these syndromes serve as a Rosetta stone for the understanding of inherited ion-channel disorders leading to life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias. Ionic abnormal changes mainly affecting K(+), Na(+), or Ca(2+) currents, which either prolong or shorten ventricular repolarisation, can create a substrate of electrophysiological heterogeneity that predisposes to the development of ventricular tachyarrhythmias and sudden death. The understanding of the genetic basis of the syndromes is hoped to lead to genetic therapy that can restore repolarisation. Presently, symptomatic individuals are generally best treated with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator. Clinicians should be aware of these syndromes and realise that drugs, ischaemia, exercise, and emotions can precipitate sudden death

in susceptible individuals.”
“Amyloid beta (A beta), a peptide family produced and deposited in neurons and endothelial cells (EC), is found at subnanomolar concentrations in the plasma of healthy individuals. Simple Electron transport chain conformational changes produce a form of A beta, A beta 42, which creates toxic plaque in the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. Oxidative stress induced blood brain barrier degeneration has been proposed as a key factor for A beta 42 toxicity, but cannot account for lack of injury from the same peptide in healthy tissues. We hypothesized that cell state mediates A effect. Thus, we examined the viability of aortic EC, vascular smooth muscle cells (SMC) and epithelial cells (EPI) in different states in the presence of A beta secreted from transfected Chinese hamster ovary cells (CHO).

Here, we show that gB interacts with gH/gL in the absence of gD

Here, we show that gB interacts with gH/gL in the absence of gD. The gB-gH/gL complex was best detected with a form of gB in which the endocytosis and phosphorylation motif have been deleted; this form of gB persists in the membranes of the exocytic pathway and is not endocytosed. SU5402 manufacturer The gB-gH/gL interaction was detected both in whole transfected cells by means of a split yellow fluorescent protein complementation assay and, biochemically, by a pull-down assay. Results with a panel of chimeric forms of gB, in which portions of the glycoprotein bracketed by consecutive cysteines were replaced

with the corresponding portions from human herpesvirus 8 gB, favor the view that gB carries multiple sites for interaction with gH/gL, and one of these sites is located in the pleckstrin-like domain 1 carrying the bipartite fusion loop.”
“Phencyclidine is an N-methyl D-aspartate S63845 solubility dmso receptor (NMDAR) blocker that has been reported to induce neuronal apoptosis during development and schizophrenia-like behaviors in rats later in life. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) has been shown to prevent neuronal death caused by NMDAR blockade, but the precise mechanism is unknown. This study examined the role of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)

pathways in BDNF protection of PCP-induced apoptosis in corticostriatal organotypic cultures. It was observed that BDNF inhibited PCP-induced

apoptosis in a concentration-dependent fashion. BDNF effectively prevented PCP-induced inhibition of the ERK and PI-3K/Akt pathways and suppressed GSK-3 beta activation. Blockade of either PI3K/Akt or ERK activation abolished BDNF protection. Western blot analysis revealed that the PI-3K inhibitor LY294002 prevented the stimulating effect of BDNF on the PI-3K/Akt pathway, but had no effect on the ERK pathway. Similarly, the ERK inhibitor PD98059 prevented the stimulating effect of BDNF on the ERK pathway, but not the PI-3K/Akt pathway. Co-application of LY294002 and PD98059 had no additional effect on BDNF-evoked activation of Akt MM-102 order or ERK. However, concurrent exposure to PD98059 and LY294002 caused much greater inhibition of BDNF-evoked phosphorylation of GSK-3 beta at serine 9 than did LY294002 alone. Finally, either BDNF or GSK-3 beta inhibition prevented PCP-induced suppression of cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CREB) phosphorylation. These data demonstrate that the protective effect of BDNF against PCP-induced apoptosis is mediated by parallel activation of the PI3K/Akt and ERK pathways, most likely involves inhibition of GSK-3 beta and activation of CREB. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that cortical elec

In the current study, we tested the hypothesis that cortical electrophysiological markers for the processing of facial emotion are associated with individual differences in executive and social cognition skills. We tested for correlations between the amplitude of event-related potentials (N170) in a dual valence task and Omipalisib participants’ scores on three neuropsychological assessments (general neuropsychology,

executive functioning, and social cognition). N170 was modulated by the stimulus type (face versus word) and the valence of faces (positive versus negative). The neural source of N170 was estimated to be the fusiform gyrus. Robust correlations were found between neuropsychological markers and measures

of facial processing. Social cognition skills (as measured by three tests: the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test, the Faux Pas test, and the Iowa Gambling Task) correlated with cortical measures of emotional discrimination. Executive functioning ability also correlated with VX-661 the cortical discrimination of complex emotional stimuli. Our findings suggest that the cortical processing of facial emotional expression is associated with social cognition skills. (C) 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose: We determined the rate of diagnostic imaging use for the preoperative evaluation of boys with cryptorchidism and the factors that influence referring providers to obtain imaging.

Materials and Methods: We conducted a national cross-sectional survey of pediatricians randomly sampled from the American Medical Association Physician Masterfile. The primary outcome GDC-0449 cost was whether the respondent obtained imaging at the initial evaluation of boys with cryptorchidism. Participants were queried

regarding practice location and type, length of time in practice, frequency of reading academic journals and the accessibility of surgical sub-specialists. For those who ordered imaging, respondents were asked how frequently they ordered imaging, and were asked to select patient factors and professional beliefs that influenced their decision to obtain imaging. Factors associated with imaging use were identified using multivariate logistic regression.

Results: Of the pediatricians who acknowledged contact by surveyors 47% completed the survey and 34% of respondents reported always or usually ordering imaging. Of those who obtained imaging 96.4% used ultrasound. Pediatricians in practice fewer than 20 years (OR 3.43, 95% CI 1.92-6.16) and those in nonacademic practices (OR 3.00, 95% CI 1.34-6.71) were more likely to order imaging. Pediatricians obtained imaging because of beliefs that imaging reliably identifies a nonpalpable testis, reassures the family and assists the surgeon with operative planning.