Priapism after tumor necrosis factor alpha inhibitor use.

We present a possible important association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha inhibition (TNFa-i) and erectile function in a male patient with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Long-standing, untreated RA may result in significant physical limitation and disability, however often overlooked is the association between RA and erectile and sexual dysfunction. Ischemic priapism is currently unrecognized as an adverse reaction associated with TNFa-i use and there have been no reported cases with adalimumab.

Color-coded duplex sonography compared to multidetector computed tomography for the diagnosis of crohn disease relapse and complications.

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of color-coded duplex sonography for the diagnosis of Crohn disease relapse and complications compared to multidetector computed tomography (CT).

Methods: The Institutional Ethics Committee approved the protocol research, and written consent forms were obtained. Patients with a diagnosis of Crohn disease presenting with symptoms of relapse or complications (54 patients; 27 female; ages 9-80 years; mean, 34.

Paraoxonase 1 (PON1) expression in hepatocytes is upregulated by pomegranate polyphenols: a role for PPAR-gamma pathway.

Objective: Serum paraoxonase-1 (PON1) expression is regulated by polyphenols, shown to activate the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARgamma). Pomegranate juice (PJ) is a polyphenol-rich fruit. Because promoter sequence of PON1 gene indicates that it could be regulated by nuclear receptors, we investigated the effect of PJ polyphenols on PON1 gene expression in HuH7 hepatocytes.

Ceramide and glucosylceramide upregulate expression of the multidrug resistance gene MDR1 in cancer cells.

In the present study we used human breast cancer cell lines to assess the influence of ceramide and glucosylceramide (GC) on expression of MDR1, the multidrug resistance gene that codes for P-glycoprotein (P-gp), because GC has been shown to be a substrate for P-gp. Acute exposure (72 h) to C8-ceramide (5 microg/ml culture medium), a cell-permeable ceramide, increased MDR1 mRNA levels by 3- and 5-fold in T47D and in MDA-MB-435 cells, respectively. Acute exposure of MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cells to C8-GC (10 microg/ml culture medium), a cell-permeable analog of GC, increased MDR1 expression by 2- and 4- fold, respectively.