Cervical artificial disc replacement (C-ADR): global perspectives on use and trends.

Study Design:  Cross-sectional survey.

Objectives:  To obtain information from the global community regarding cervical artificial disc replacement (C-ADR) use and trends before and after US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval of devices in 2007 and summarize available information on utilization and government approval for devices.

Methods:  Data on utilization and approval were sought from PubMed, Google, FDA, and manufacturers' websites.

Does postsurgical cervical deformity affect the risk of cervical adjacent segment pathology? A systematic review.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: To assess whether the presence or magnitude of postsurgical malalignment in the coronal (scoliosis) or sagittal plane (kyphosis/spondylolisthesis) affects the risk of cervical adjacent segment pathology (ASP).

Summary Of Background Data: ASP occurs in selected patients who have undergone surgical treatment for cervical spondylosis.

Proximal junctional kyphosis as a distinct form of adjacent segment pathology after spinal deformity surgery: a systematic review.

Study Design: Systematic review.

Objective: To review the literature on proximal junctional kyphosis (PJK) as a specific form for proximal adjacent segment pathology and report on the incidence, timing, risk factors, and effect on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes reported for PJK.

Summary Of Background Data: PJK is a complication of spinal deformity surgery that can compromise outcomes and necessitate revision surgery.

Effect of a leukotriene B4 receptor antagonist, LY293111, on allergen induced responses in asthma.

Background: Leukotriene (LT) B4 is a potent neutrophil chemoattractant and also stimulates eosinophils in vitro, but its role in asthmatic inflammation is unknown.

Methods: The effect of the novel LTB4 receptor antagonist, LY293111, was examined using allergen challenge as a model for asthmatic inflammation in 12 atopic asthmatic subjects in a double blind placebo controlled crossover trial. Subjects with an established early (EAR) and late asthmatic response (LAR) to allergen at screening received oral LY293111 in a dose of 112 mg three times daily for seven days or placebo before further allergen challenge.

A kinetic assay for eosinophil peroxidase activity in eosinophils and eosinophil conditioned media.

The activity of eosinophil peroxidase (EPO) is commonly employed as a measure of eosinophil activation in biologic fluids. Determination of product formation by this enzyme by end-point measurement may be affected profoundly by substrate concentrations, reaction time and degradation of end-product and enzyme. To determine more accurately EPO concentrations in media conditioned by isolated, purified eosinophils, we have developed a kinetic, colorimetric assay to measure EPO concentration as a function of maximum velocity of reaction (Vmax).

Evidence of a novel association of unsaturated fatty acids with Gc (vitamin D-binding protein).

The strong sequence homology described recently between Gc (Vitamin D-binding protein) and albumin, and the ability of the latter, to bind 2-p-toluidinylnaphthylene sulfonate (TNS) promoted similar binding studies with Gc. TNS bound to native Gc as demonstrated by fluorescence, but chloroform:methanol extraction of Gc and gas chromatography revealed that large amounts of unsaturated fatty acids - 16:1, 18:1, 18:2 and 20:4 were also associated with Gc. In addition, TNS fluorescence was abolished by delipidation of Gc, and restored upon subsequent reconstitution with fatty acid.

Group-specific component (vitamin D binding protein) prevents the interaction between G-actin and profilin.

Profilin purified from human platelets formed a 1:1 molar ratio complex with rabbit skeletal muscle G-actin but was displaced by purified serum Gc (vitamin D binding protein) in a dose-dependent fashion as assessed by chromatography and ultrafiltration. This suggested that Gc and profilin competed for the same binding area on G-actin, with Gc-G-actin complexes being more stable than profilin-G-actin complexes in vitro. The binding domain for Gc on G-actin was localized to a 16,000-Da C-terminal fragment of G-actin generated by Staphylococcus aureus V8 protease, as judged by comigration on two-dimensional electrophoresis and also by overlaying electrophoresis gels with 125I-Gc.

Isolation of a highly enriched sarcolemma membrane fraction from canine heart.

A highly enriched sarcolemma preparation was isolated by differential centrifugation of a canine ventricular homogenate followed by centrifugation of a membrane fraction layered over 22% (w/v) sucrose. Ouabain binding, ouabain-sensitive potassium phosphatase activity and 5'-nucleotidase activity were enriched 19--27 fold over the homogenate whereas Ca2+-ATPase and succinate dehydrogenase activities were 0.75 and 0.

The effect of thermal injury on plasma carnitine in rats.

The plasma concentration of L-carnitine in scalded rats was determined to be greater (p less than or equal to 0.05) than that of control rats at 6 h following the administration of a 20% body surface, full-thickness burn produced by scalding in a 100 degrees C water bath for 15 sec.