The aim of this study was to summarize the clinical features of autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and review the advances in the differential diagnosis with pancreatic carcinoma, thus help to make a correct diagnosis and avoid unnecessary surgery in clinical practice.   Five patients diagnosed as AIP in accordance with ...

Despite the excellent outcomes in the current era after the Fontan procedure, it continues to have an inherent risk of failure. Cardiac transplantation provides 1 option for treating these patients; however, the indications for, timing of, and outcomes after, transplantation remain undefined. We examined our own institutional experience with transplantation ...

Isocyanate exposure was evaluated in 33 spray painters from 25 Washington State autobody shops. Personal breathing zone samples (n = 228) were analyzed for isophorone diisocyanate (IPDI) monomer, 1,6-hexamethylene diisocyanate (HDI) monomer, IPDI polyisocyanate, and three polyisocyanate forms of HDI. The objective was to describe exposures to isocyanates while spray ...

: Model impact of increasing screening and partner notification (PN) on chlamydia positivity. : We used a stochastic simulation model describing pair formation and dissolution in an age-structured heterosexual population. The model accounts for steady, casual, and concurrent partnerships and a highly sexually active core group. The model used existing ...

: To identify the risk factors leading to catheter malfunction. : Reliable venous access is crucial for cancer patients. Malfunction of intravenous ports may lead to discontinuation of treatment and repeated interventions. We retrospectively reviewed the independent risk factors for catheter malfunction among patients receiving intravenous port implantations. : A ...

The objective of this study was to determine validity and reliability of the Moline-Roberts Pharmacologic Sedation Scale. A multidisciplinary expert panel was used to establish content validity. Reliability was determined by a prospective, randomized, psychometric evaluation of sedation assignment made by 2 nurse research assistants. The study was conducted in ...

OBJECTIVE:: To identify independent preoperative predictors of outcome for total hip or knee replacement (THKR) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair, including the importance of the time interval between an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) or stroke and surgery. BACKGROUND:: Present guidelines do not advocate a prolonged delay after ACS though ...

: The aim of this study was to compare the outcome of the hemorrhoidal artery ligation procedure for hemorrhoidal disease with and without use of the provided Doppler transducer. : Hemorrhoidal artery ligation, known as HAL (hemorrhoidal artery ligation) or THD (transanal hemorrhoidal dearterialization) procedure, is a common treatment modality ...

Many portable single-gas monitors are used for the detection of low concentrations of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) and sulfur dioxide (SO(2)) in the workplace. With the recent lowering of the H(2)S and SO(2) ACGIH® threshold limit value (TLV®) the ability of these devices to selectively respond to these new lower levels ...

: To compare the effectiveness and cost of 2 ex vivo training curricula for laparoscopic suturing. : Although simulators have been developed to teach laparoscopic suturing, a barrier to their wide implementation in training programs is a lack of knowledge regarding their relative training benefit and their associated cost. : ...

Objective: The aim of our study was to analyze the effects of caffeine and chocolate (70% cocoa) on fetal heart rate (FHR). Study design: Fifty pregnant women with uncomplicated gestation, matched for age and parity, underwent computerized FHR recording before and after the consumption of caffeine and then, after one ...

Summary:  Development of germinal center (GC) B cells and follicular helper T (Tfh) cells requires the transcription factor B-cell lymphoma 6 (Bcl6). Expression of Bcl6 in B cells and helper T cells is regulated by complex signals including those generated through their antigen-specific interactions, which take place in various microenvironments ...

Several previous studies on the relationship between the insulin-degrading enzyme (IDE) gene and Alzheimer's disease (AD) have connected certain genetic variants to late-onset AD, in the absence of the apolipoprotein E (APOE)ε4 allele. However, the conclusions of these studies remain controversial. We investigated the association between two polymorphisms of IDE ...

Mannose-specific lectin Concanavalin A (Con A) was purified from Canavalia ensiformis seeds. For this purpose, mannose attached poly(hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) cryogel was prepared by cryopolymerization. Mannose was used as the affinity ligand and was covalently attached onto the PHEMA cryogel via carbodiimide activation. The PHEMA cryogel containing 23.3 mmol mannose/g ...

Assessment of hormone receptors (estrogen and progesterone) helps to direct therapy for women with breast cancer. Immunohistochemistry is most commonly used to assess hormone receptor status and it is essential that these tests are performed accurately and reliably within and across laboratories. The overall purpose of this guideline is to ...

Bisphosphonates reduce the risk of skeletal-related events (SREs; i.e. spinal cord compression, pathological fracture, radiation or surgery to the bone, and hypercalcaemia) in patients with metastatic cancer. A number of analyses have been conducted to assess the cost effectiveness of bisphosphonates in patients with bone metastases secondary to breast cancer, ...

Biologic drugs, such as monoclonal antibodies, are commonly made using mammalian cells in culture. The cell lines used for manufacturing should ideally be clonal, meaning derived from a single cell, which represents a technically challenging process. Fetal bovine serum is often used to support low cell density cultures, however, from ...

The purpose of this project was to implement universal screening of all late preterm newborns for hyperbilirubinemia in a level I newborn nursery. RATIONALE/BACKGROUND: Late preterm newborns have traditionally received the same level of care and monitoring as term newborns despite being at increased risk for morbidity and mortality. An ...

The population of older adults continues to increase, and polypharmacy in this population is more the rule than the exception. Physiologic changes that occur with aging result in multiple alterations to the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of drugs, which, in turn, increase the risk of adverse drug reactions. Consideration of initial ...

The reduction in polypharmacy and avoidance of inappropriate medications is a common goal in the care of older persons, regardless of setting. While multidisciplinary teams and regular medication reconciliation and review can identify and reduce medication-related problems, tools to decrease the use of high-risk/low benefit medications can help the individual ...

: This study aimed to compare the outcomes of liver resection for unilateral and bilateral intrahepatic stones. : Hepatectomy is effective in treating intrahepatic stones accompanied by biliary stricture or segmental atrophy. The outcomes between unilateral and bilateral intrahepatic stones may be varied because of different complexity of these 2 ...

Aim:  Contrast-enhanced ultrasound can be used to assess liver disease severity non-invasively by observing intra- and extrahepatic hemodynamic changes. Transit times are calculated to include intra- and extrahepatic components (hepatic vein transit time, HVTT) or the intrahepatic component (hepatic transit time, HTT), but these have not been compared directly. We ...

Serum alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity is frequently measured in toxicity studies. In the present study, we assessed the usefulness of a commercially available polyacrylamide-gel disk electrophoresis kit used in humans (AlkPhor System, Jokoh Co. Ltd., Tokyo, Japan) for identifying serum ALP isoenzymes in rats of the Sprague-Dawley strain (SD rats), ...

Hemorrhage secondary to postoperative pseudoaneurysm is a rare event, but may complicate the clinical course of straightforward and common interventions such as sinonasal procedures, tonsillectomy, and maxillofacial and plastic surgeries. We report our experience with the endovascular management of iatrogenic pseudoaneurysm in eight patients who had undergone recent craniomaxillofacial surgery. ...

There is a lack of a common concept on how to estimate transmissibility of Chlamydia trachomatis from cross-sectional sexual partnership studies. Using a mathematical model that takes into account the dynamics of chlamydia transmission and sexual partnership formation, we report refined estimates of chlamydia transmissibility in heterosexual partnerships.

Family-focused therapy for anxiety disorders (FFT-AD), a flexible couple/family treatment provided in conjunction with cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety disorders, is described. The treatment is based upon research showing that anxious patients are more likely to drop out of or fare poorly in CBT when they live with a family ...

Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2, alias ERBB2)-targeted therapy in breast and gastric cancers depends on the reliable assessment of HER2 protein expression and (in equivocal cases) the quantitative evaluation of HER2 gene amplification. Typically, HER2 and centromere 17 gene copy numbers are evaluated using in situ hybridization (ISH) ...

: To determine whether a postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is associated with a worse prognosis and/or a more advanced cancer stage and to evaluate the association between a postoperative VTE and cancer-specific survival when known prognostic factors, such as age, stage, cancer type, and type of surgery, are controlled. : ...

Abnormal diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) results have been observed in the periventricular white matter in patients with ischemic leukoaraiosis (ILA). However, the underlying pathological changes and their relationship to cognitive impairments are obscure. In addition, damage in the thalamus, an important structure in the executive function network, has been suggested ...

We evaluated geminin labeling index (LI) as a new prognostic indicator of pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor. Twenty-seven patients who underwent surgery were retrospectively referred. Labeling indices for geminin and Ki-67 were calculated and compared with clinicopathologic factors. Then, the concordance of positivity between 2 LIs was evaluated using the color difference ...

A 19-year-old male patient presented with intermittent high fever and left cervical lymphadenopathy. The lymph node biopsy findings were interpreted as "Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated lymphoproliferative disorder consistent with infectious mononucleosis." No molecular studies were performed at that time. The patient was followed without treatment. Five months later, the patient again ...

  We aimed to investigate the relationship between the number of involved organs or regions and serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) levels.   The number of pancreatic and/or extrapancreatic lesions and serum IgG and IgG4 levels were examined by groups in 46 patients with IgG4-related diseases at ...

Epistaxis is a common medical problem that rarely requires surgical intervention. However, when medical or surgical intervention is required, epistaxis can sometimes be difficult to control. Knowledge of nasopharyngeal anatomy is absolutely essential to the proper management of epistaxis. This article begins with a discussion of the essential anatomy of ...

Depression impacts 9.4% of the adult population in the United States, and it is known to impact work performance. Nurses with depression are not only likely to suffer themselves, but their illness may have an impact on their coworkers and potentially the quality of care they provide. Thus, the purpose ...

Summary:  BCL6 is a transcriptional repressor required in mature B cells during the germinal center (GC) reaction. Multiple mechanisms act coordinately to timely modulate BCL6 expression at transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels. BCL6 prevents premature activation and differentiation of GC B cells and provides an environment tolerant of the DNA breaks ...

: The aim of this study was to evaluate the adequacy of esophageal classification for adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEJ) of the seventh American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) TNM classification. : The seventh AJCC TNM classification proposed the new classification for AEJ as a part of esophageal cancer ...

Summary:  T-cell help to B cells is a fundamental aspect of adaptive immunity and the generation of B-cell memory (memory B cells and plasma cells). Follicular helper CD4(+) T (Tfh) cells are the specialized providers of B-cell help, and Tfh cells depend on Bcl6 for their differentiation. This review discusses ...

The most important approach to the development of platform organisms for recombinant protein production relies on random mutagenesis and phenotypic selection. Complex phenotypes, including those associated with significantly elevated expression and secretion of heterologous proteins, are the result of multiple genomic mutations. Using next generation sequencing, a parent and derivative ...

Summary:  Interferon regulatory factor 4 (IRF4) is a member of the IRF family of transcription factors and is expressed in most cell types of the immune system. Within the B-cell lineage, IRF4 is expressed in all developmental stages except during the germinal center (GC) reaction. IRF4 expression, however, is upregulated ...

Phyllodes tumors (PTs) of the breast are rare biphasic tumors with the potential for invasion and metastatic spread. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) are involved in several key aspects of tumoral growth, invasion, and metastasis, but little is known of their expression in PTs. The ...

  Self-expanding metallic stents (SEMS) are useful palliative option and a bridge to surgery in malignant colorectal obstruction. The aim of this study was to evaluate the clinical outcomes of SEMS to palliate colorectal malignant obstruction.   Malignant colorectal obstructive patients who underwent SEMS insertion at the National Cancer Center, ...

Uncertainty exists among surgeons as to whether minimally invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is a comparable operation to open esophagectomy (OE). The surgical technique and oncologic dissection should not be degraded when using a minimally invasive approach. We reviewed a single hospital's experience with both OE and MIE. From 2000 to 2010, ...

Large cell carcinomas with rhabdoid phenotype (LCC-RP) account for <1% of pulmonary large cell carcinomas and are associated with extremely poor prognosis. We report a case of a 64-year-old male patient who presented at an advanced stage with a LCC-RP, arising from a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma of the lung. Ninety ...

Oral and maxillofacial surgeons are occasionally called on to diagnose, treat, and rule out peritonsillar abscesses. In this article, the anatomy of the peritonsillar area, its contents, surgical approaches, and possible complications are discussed.

: Serologic studies indicate that herpes simplex virus (HSV)-1 and HSV-2 infections are highly prevalent among people infected with HIV. As an ulcerative genital disease, HSV may be important to HIV transmission and HIV-comorbidity. Routine clinical care of HSV in this population has not been described. : Data were abstracted ...

: The aim of this study was to develop and validate a scoring system for bowel dysfunction after low anterior resection (LAR) for rectal cancer, on the basis of symptoms and impact on quality of life (QoL). : LAR for rectal cancer often results in severe bowel dysfunction (LAR syndrome ...

: To determine the prevalence and risk factors of herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2) infection and its coinfection with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in men who have sex with men (MSM) in China. : A convenience sample of 1462 MSM were recruited from different settings (an STD clinic, a ...

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a malignant epithelial tumor that is uncommon in individuals younger than 45 years. This study compared the cell proliferation and angiogenic index in SCCs of the tongue between young and older patients. Forty SCCs of the tongue, 20 diagnosed in young patients (≤40 y) ...

Summary:  Interactions between B-cell antigen receptors (BCRs) and their ligands have a complexity and variability that is unparalleled within known biology. Each developing B cell undergoes gene rearrangements to generate a BCR encoded by a unique pair of immunoglobulin (Ig) variable region genes, which serves to make the antigen-binding capabilities ...

  To examine the differences in the prevalence and severity of anxiety and depression in patients with functional dyspepsia (FD), nonerosive reflux disease (NERD), irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and healthy controls.   Consecutive patients undergoing an index endoscopic examination for various symptoms were interviewed. All the three functional gastrointestinal disorders ...