A method for detection and genotyping of genital Chlamydia trachomatis infections based on omp1 gene amplification and sequencing was developed. DNA was extracted from urogenital or urine samples using a Chelex-based method, and an approximately 1,100-bp-long fragment from the omp1 gene was directly amplified and sequenced. Genotyping was performed by BLAST similarity search, and phylogenetic tree analysis was used to illustrate the evolutionary relationships between clinical isolates and reference strains. The method was used to determine the genotypes of C. trachomatis in 237 positive urogenital and/or urine specimens collected at a Swedish sexually transmitted disease clinic during 1 year. The most common genotypes corresponded to serotypes E (47%) and F (17%). The omp1 gene was highly conserved for genotype E (106 of 112 samples without any mutation) and F (41 of 42 samples without any mutation) strains but appear slightly less conserved for genotypes G (n ‫؍‬ 6) and H (n ‫؍‬ 6), where the sequences displayed one to four nucleotide substitutions relative to the reference sequence. Genotyping of samples collected at the follow-up visit indicated that two patients had become reinfected, while three other patients suffered treatment failure or reinfection. One woman appeared to have a mixed infection with two different C. trachomatis strains. This omp1 genotyping method had a high reproducibility and could be used for epidemiological characterization of sexually transmitted Chlamydia infections.

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Perhaps women with PD should be offered surgery more often and earlier in the course of their disease.

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Objectives: To evaluate the impact of thalamic deep brain stimulation (DBS) on disability and healthrelated quality of life in patients with essential tremor. Methods: Twenty seven consecutive patients were evaluated prospectively, before surgery and at a mean of 12 months (range 6-26) after thalamic DBS. Assessment tools included the Fahn-Tolosa-Marìn tremor rating scale (TRS), activities of daily living (ADL) taxonomy, Nottingham health profile (NHP) and the visual analogue scale (VAS) for measuring impact of disease on life. Additional information on the side effects of, and expectations from surgery was obtained by interview. Results: Thalamic DBS improved the ability of the patients in eating, drinking, writing, home maintenance, hobbies, and participation in society. Activities of daily life requiring bimanual skills were less improved. The emotional condition of the patients was positively affected and the negative impact of the disease on life as a whole, and on social life was decreased. Seventy per cent of the patients considered that the surgical treatment met their expectations. Conclusions: After thalamic DBS, health-related quality of life including disability in ADL and social life were improved in patients with essential tremor.

The occurrence of intracranial aneurysms (IAs) in the families of 579 consecutive patients with subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), of whom 485 had verified IAs, was studied retrospectively. IAs occurred in the families of 6.7% of the IA patients, but only 0.4% of their siblings had IAs. However, there were differences between the familial and nonfamilial IA patients, indicating that the familial patients are a specific small subpopulation of IA patients. The familial patients were younger, often had multiple aneurysms, and had aneurysms frequently located on arteries other than those in the nonfamilial group.

Colonized persons' and healthcare personnel's understanding of MRSA determines whether the personnel's behavior is perceived as proper or improper. Individual responsibility for patient-professional interactions in relation to MRSA colonization and adherence to infection control measures should be more stringent.