Advanced head and neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC) is currently treated with taxane-based chemotherapy. We have previously shown that docetaxel (DTX) induces a ras-dependent survival signal that can be antagonized by farnesyl transferase inhibitors (FTI) such as tipifarnib (TIP). Here we show that the synergistic TIP/DTX combination determines synergistic apoptotic ...

Agents to induce readthrough of premature termination codons (PTCs) are useful research tools and potential therapeutics. Reporters used to detect PTC readthrough are gene-specific and thus are not suited to for general assessment of readthrough activity or in cases where PTC-inactivated genes are unknown. Here we describe a GFP-based reporter ...

This study aimed to identify self-perception variables which may predict return to work (RTW) in orthopedic trauma patients 2 years after rehabilitation. A prospective cohort investigated 1,207 orthopedic trauma inpatients, hospitalised in rehabilitation, clinics at admission, discharge, and 2 years after discharge. Information on potential predictors was obtained from self ...

Friedreich's ataxia (FRDA) causes selective atrophy of the large neurons of the dentate nucleus (DN). High iron (Fe) concentration and failure to clear the metal from the affected brain tissue are potential risk factors in the progression of the lesion. The DN also contains relatively high amounts of copper (Cu) ...

Tablet computers such as the iPad, which have a large format, improved graphic display resolution and a touch screen interface, may have an advantage compared to existing mobile devices such as smartphones and laptops for viewing radiological images. We assessed their potential for emergency radiology teleconsultation by reviewing multi-image CT ...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) represents a highly common form of dementia, but can be diagnosed in the earlier stages before dementia onset. Early diagnosis is crucial for successful therapeutic intervention. The introduction of new diagnostic biomarkers for AD is aimed at detecting underlying brain pathology. These biomarkers reflect structural or biochemical ...

The Certification for Imaging Informatics Professionals (CIIP) program is sponsored by the Society of Imaging Informatics in Medicine and the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists through the American Board of Imaging Informatics. In 2005, a survey was conducted of radiologists, technologists, information technology specialists, corporate information officers, and radiology administrators ...

Although isoprenaline (ISO) is known to activate several ion currents in mammalian myocardium, little is known about the role of action potential morphology in the ISO-induced changes in ion currents. Therefore, the effects of ISO on action potential configuration, L-type Ca²⁺ current (I(Ca)), slow delayed rectifier K⁺ current (I(Ks)) and ...

Geographic variation has been of interest to both health planners and social epidemiologists. However, while the major focus of interest of planners has been on variation in health care spending, social epidemiologists have focused on health; and while social epidemiologists have observed strong associations between poor health and poverty, planners ...

Nonstandard drugs that target critical pathogenic pathways or immune regulatory mechanisms constitute the next generation of treatments for autoimmune hepatitis. Mycophenolate mofetil impairs the proliferation of lymphocytes, decreases autoantibody production, and induces apoptosis of activated immunocytes. Patients treated for azathioprine intolerance improve more frequently than patients treated for refractory liver ...

Red wine polyphenols may preserve endothelial function during aging. Endothelial cell senescence enhances age-related endothelial dysfunction. We investigated whether RWE (red wine extract) prevents oxidative-stress-induced senescence in HUVECs (human umbilical-vein endothelial cells). Senescence was induced by exposing HUVECs to tBHP (t-butylhydroperoxide), and quantified by senescence-associated β-galactosidase staining. RWE (0-50 μg/ml) concentration ...

Inhaled corticosteroids, anticholinergics and β₂-adrenoceptor agonists are frequently combined for treating chronic respiratory diseases. We examine the corticosteroid, budesonide, and novel NO-donating derivative, TPI 1020, against histamine- and methacholine-induced bronchoconstriction and whether they enhance the β₂-adrenoceptor agonist formoterol or muscarinic antagonist tiotropium in conscious guinea pigs. Dunkin-Hartley guinea pigs received ...

In bone tissue engineering, growth factors are widely used. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are the most well-known regulators of osteogenesis and angiogenesis. We investigated whether the timing of dual release of VEGF and BMP-2 influences the amount of bone formation in a large-animal model. ...

Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate and cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate are intracellular (second) messengers that are produced from the nucleotide triphosphates by a family of enzymes consisting of adenylyl and guanylyl cyclases. These enzymes are involved in a broad array of signal transduction pathways mediated by the cyclic nucleotide monophosphates and their kinases, ...

In B lymphocytes, the cell surface receptor CD38 is involved in apoptosis of immature B cells, proliferation and differentiation of mature B cells. Although CD38 has been establish as a receptor, its signaling has been only partially characterized. As a result of the lack of signaling motifs in the cytoplasmic ...

This review is focused on the role of the ankyrin (A) transient receptor potential (TRP) channel TRPA1 in vascular regulation. TRPA1 is activated by environmental irritants, pungent compounds found in foods such as garlic, mustard and cinnamon, as well as metabolites produced during oxidative stress. The structure of the channel ...

Despite empirical links between sexual revictimization (ie, experiencing 2 or more sexual assaults) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), to our knowledge, no epidemiological studies document the prevalence of sexual revictimization and PTSD. Establishing estimates is essential to determine the scope, public health impact, and psychiatric sequelae of sexual revictimization. To ...

The importance of developing unique, neural circuitry-based treatments for the cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms of Alzheimer disease (AD) was the impetus for a phase I study of deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with AD that targeted the fornix. To test the hypotheses that DBS would increase cerebral glucose metabolism ...

BACKGROUND Tumor treatment is the mainstay of therapy for paraneoplastic neurologic disorders (PNDs), but it is only effective in some cases and other treatment options are limited. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the short-term use of a combination of prednisone and tacrolimus for acute neurologic worsening in PND in which intracellular antigens ...

OBJECTIVES To determine the prevalence of medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids among high school seniors in the United States and to assess substance use behaviors based on medical and nonmedical use of prescription opioids. DESIGN Nationally representative samples of high school seniors (modal age 18 years) were surveyed ...

Management of humeral shaft fractures has historically been largely conservative. A significant body of literature, dating back to the 1970s, has shown that functional bracing may achieve greater than 90 % union rates and acceptable functional outcomes. More recently, however, with the advent of new surgical techniques and implant options, less ...

OBJECTIVES To assess childhood maltreatment as a risk factor for violent injuries and premature death in young adulthood and whether these associations are mediated by adolescent heavy drinking, hard drug use, hard drug selling, and violent offending. DESIGN Prospective longitudinal study of boys followed from childhood into young adulthood. SETTING ...

Second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) are increasingly used in the treatment of many psychotic and nonpsychotic disorders. Unfortunately, SGAs are often associated with substantial weight gain, with no means to predict which patients are at greatest risk. To identify single-nucleotide polymorphisms associated with antipsychotic drug–induced weight gain. Pharmacogenetic association study. Setting: The ...

Take a look at a textbook illustration of a cell and you will immediately be able to locate the nucleus, which is often drawn as a spherical or ovoid shaped structure. But not all cells have such nuclei. In fact, some disease states are diagnosed by the presence of nuclei ...

Kawasaki syndrome (KS) occurs in children <18 years of age and is the leading cause of acquired heart disease among children in the United States. Understanding the epidemiology of KS and factors associated with coronary artery abnormalities (CAA) may lead to timely diagnosis and treatment of KS and could limit ...

Several studies have reported that HLA-DRB1 may be correlated with pemphigus vulgaris (PV), but most have been based on small samples and the results remain inconsistent and unclear. To investigate the correlation between DRB1 and PV by a meta-analysis of case-control/nonfamily studies. PubMed, Wiley Online Library, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Cochrane ...

The clinical utility of increasing to weekly adalimumab therapy in patients with psoriasis with inadequate response to every other week (eow) dosing is unknown. (i) To determine the effectiveness of escalating adalimumab dosage from 40 mg eow to 40 mg weekly in patients with < PASI 50 response following ≥ 24 ...

Despite promising results from the therapeutic use of stem cells for treating ischemic diseases, the poor survival of cells transplanted into ischemic regions is one of the major problems that undermine the efficacy of stem cell therapy. Cord blood mononuclear cells (CBMNCs) are an alternative source of mesenchymal stem cells ...

In the experimental setting several investigators have recently reported exacerbations of the burden of axonal damage and other neuropathological changes following repetitive traumatic brain injuries (TBI) that were sustained at intervals from hours to days following the initial insult. These same studies also revealed that prolonging the interval between the ...

A completely automated, high-throughput biodosimetry workstation has been developed by the Center for Minimally Invasive Radiation Biodosimetry at Columbia University over the past few years. To process patients' blood samples safely and reliably presents a significant challenge in the development of this biodosimetry tool. In this paper, automated failure recognition ...

Transaction data record various information about individuals, including their purchases and diagnoses, and are increasingly published to support large-scale and low-cost studies in domains such as marketing and medicine. However, the dissemination of transaction data may lead to privacy breaches, as it allows an attacker to link an individual's record ...

With development from immature fetus to near-term fetus, newborn, and adult, the cerebral vasculature undergoes a number of fundamental changes. Although the near-term fetus is prepared for a transition from an intra- to extra-uterine existence, this is not necessarily the case with the premature fetus, which is more susceptible to ...

Macrophages are the major source of the chemokines macrophage inflammatory protein-2 (MIP-2) and keratinocyte-derived chemokine (KC), which play a major role in neutrophil migration to sites of inflammation. Although extracellular ATP from inflammatory tissues induces several immune responses in macrophages, it is unclear whether ATP-stimulated macrophages affect neutrophil migration. Therefore, ...

A large number of Mexican migrants are deported to Mexico and released in the North Mexican border region every year. Despite their volume and high vulnerability, little is known about the level of HIV infection and related risk behaviors among this hard-to-reach population. We conducted a cross-sectional, probability survey with ...

Information on cytokine profiles in fungal sepsis (FS), an important cause of mortality in extremely low birthweight (ELBW) infants, is lacking. We hypothesized that cytokine profiles in the first 21 d of life in ELBW infants with FS differ from those with bacterial sepsis (BS) or no sepsis (NS). In ...

Slow flow and no-reflow phenomenon (SF-NR) in saphenous vein grafts (SVG) stenting is related to the occurrence of distal plaque embolization, platelet activation and microvascular vasospasm. Our article discusses few of the patents related to strategies for preventing slow-flow/no-reflow phenomenon in SVG percutaneous coronary intervention (SVG PCI). Data from 163 ...

Maternal smoking in utero has been associated with adverse health outcomes including lower respiratory tract infections in infants and children, but the mechanisms underlying these associations continue to be investigated. We hypothesized that nicotine plays a significant role in mediating the effects of maternal tobacco smoke on the function of ...

Mitochondria are known to be involved in cholestatic liver injury. The potential protective effect of resveratrol in cholestatic liver injury and the possible roles of autophagy and apoptosis induction in this process are not yet clear. The aim of this study is to determine whether resveratrol administration after bile duct ...

Late life depression (LLD) is an important area of research given the growing elderly population. The purpose of this review is to examine the available evidence for the biological basis of LLD. Structural neuroimaging shows specific gray matter structural changes in LLD as well as ischemic lesion burden via white ...

Increased oxygen tension at birth regulates physiologic events that are essential to postnatal survival, but the accompanying oxidative stress may also generate isoprostanes. We hypothesized that isoprostanes regulate ductus arteriosus (DA) function during postnatal vascular transition. Isoprostanes were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. DA tone was assessed by pressure myography. ...

We have developed a unique method that allows us to culture large volumes of chondrocyte expansion from a small piece of human elastic cartilage. The characteristic features of our culturing method are that fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF2), which promotes proliferation of elastic chondrocytes, is added to a culture medium, and ...

Intensive care unit beds are limited, yet few guidelines exist for triage of patients to the intensive care unit, especially patients at low risk for mortality. The frequency with which low-risk patients are admitted to intensive care units in different hospitals is unknown. Our objective was to assess variation in ...

Autophagy delivers cytoplasmic material for lysosomal degradation in eukaryotic cells. Starvation induces high levels of autophagy to promote survival in the lack of nutrients. We compared genome-wide transcriptional profiles of fed and starved control, autophagy-deficient Atg7 and Atg1 null mutant Drosophila larvae to search for novel regulators of autophagy. Genes ...

Aggregation-prone proteins associated with neurodegenerative disease, such as α synuclein and β amyloid, now appear to share key prion-like features with mammalian prion protein, such as the ability to recruit normal proteins to aggregates and to translocate between neurons. These features may shed light on the genesis of stereotyped lesion ...

Failure to eliminate abnormal proteins in the cell is associated with numerous aggregation diseases. Misfolded proteins are normally detected by protein quality control and either refolded or eliminated. The ubiquitin-proteasome system is a major pathway that degrades these unwanted proteins. Ubiquitin ligases are central to these degradation pathways as they ...

Autophagy is a catabolic process involved in the turnover of organelles and macromolecules which, depending on conditions, may lead to cell death or preserve cell survival. We found that some lung cancer cell lines and tumor samples are characterized by increased levels of lipidated LC3. Inhibition of autophagy sensitized non-small ...

We characterize the in vivo changes over time in the retinal structure of wild-type mice alongside two lines of mice deficient in the β-subunit of phosphodiesterase (rd1 and rd10 mice) using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). SD-OCT images were obtained using the Bioptigen spectral domain ophthalmic imaging system (SDOIS). ...

Most prions in yeast form amyloid fibrils that must be severed by the protein disaggregase Hsp104 to be propagated and transmitted efficiently to newly formed buds. Only one yeast prion, [PSI (+) ], is cured by Hsp104 overexpression. We investigated the interaction between Hsp104 and Sup35, the priongenic protein in ...

Doppel (Dpl) protein is a paralog of the prion protein (PrP) that shares 25% sequence similarity with the C-terminus of PrP, a common N-glycosylation site and a C-terminal signal peptide for attachment of a glycosylphophatidyl inositol anchor. Whereas PrP (C) is highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), Dpl ...

During the 2009 influenza A (H1N1) pandemic, household transmission studies were implemented to better understand the characteristics of the transmission of the novel virus in a confined setting. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess and summarize the findings of these studies. We identified 27 articles, around half ...